If you are unable to Handle your online Exam, Assignments and full courses, get paid help from Online Helpers at Hiraedu!
Contact Details for Hiraedu Helper:
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657
Call: +1 727 456 9641
Website: hiraedu. com
Email: info@hiraedu. com
ASSESSMENTS I CAN COMPLETE:

• Online Courses (1 - 20 Weeks Long)
• Homework Assignments
• Exams Quizzes Tests
• Excel Projects
• Discussion Forum Posts
• Research Papers Term Papers Essays
• Employment Assessments

MY MATH SUBJECTS OF EXPERTISE:
I am very knowledgeable and proficient in assisting students in a wide range of mathematics classes. I can help students complete their homework assignments and other projects get an A on quizzes, tests, and exams (including proctored assessments) answer online discussion posts write essays & papers in MLA APA Chicago format and provide general overall academic help in each math course listed below:

• Advanced Placement Honors High School Level Math
• AP Calculus AB A.P. Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• Biostatistics Bio-Statistics
• College Algebra Intermediate Algebra
• Business Calculus
• Business Statistics
• Business Math
• Calculus I Calculus II Calculus III (Calc)
• Geometry
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Maths
• Liberal Arts Math
• Logic & Reasoning
• Multivariable Calculus Multi variable Calculus
• Precalculus Pre-calculus
• Probability & Statistics
• Psychology Statistics Psych Stats
• Quantitative Reasoning Quantitative Methods Quantitative Literacy (Quant)
• Statistics (Stats)
• Statistics for Social Sciences
• Trigonometry (Trig)

STATISTICS HELP (MY BEST SUBJECT):

• I have a master's degree in Applied Statistics from a university in New Jersey, USA. As a result, I am very proficient in helping students with various types of Statistics courses including Biostatistics Business Statistics Elementary Statistics Probability & Statistics Psychology Statistics.
• I have extensive knowledge and skill with helping students get through various statistical concepts including all of the following in alphabetical order:
• ANOVA Bar Graph, Boxplot, Dot Plot, Histogram, Pie Chart Bias Binomial, Exponential, Poisson, Gamma, Uniform Distribution Central Limit Theorem Chi-Square Test Coefficient of Determination (R^2) Conditional & Relative Probability Confidence Interval Correlation Coefficient (r) Critical Region Critical Value Descriptive & Inferential Statistics Effect Size Expected Value Experiment vs Observation Goodness of Fit Test Hypothesis Testing Interpolation & Extrapolation Interquartile Range (IQR) Kurtosis Left, Negative, Right, Positive Skewed Distribution Logistic Regression Mean, Median, Mode, Midrange Multiple Regression Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio I Population Parameter Normal, Symmetric & Bell Shaped Distribution Null & Alternate Hypothesis One & Two Sample T-Test One & Two Sample Z-Test Ordinary Least Squares Outliers P-Value Pooled Variance (Equal Variances) Proportion R^2 Range Regression Regression Line Reject & Fail to Reject Ho Relative & Cumulative Frequency Distributions Relativity & Reliability Right, Left, One, Two Tailed Tailed Hypothesis Test Sample Statistics Sampling Methods (Convenience, Stratified, Simple, Cluster, Systematic) Significance Level (1%, 5%, 10%) Skewness Standard Deviation& Variance T-Score Test Statistic Time Series Type I & Type II Errors Unbiased Estimators Z-Score

ALGEBRA HELP:

• I am well-versed in helping students do well in Algebra 1 & 2 College Algebra Intermediate Algebra Pre-Algebra and I am very knowledgeable and proficient in the following algebra topics in alphabetical order:
• Absolute Values Circle Equation Domain Exponents Graphing Horizontal & Vertical Asymptotes Inequalities, Equations & Functions Inverse Functions Linear, Exponential, Logarithmic, Quadratic Equations Logarithms Maximum & Minimum Values of a Graph Number Lines One-to-One Functions Parallel & Perpendicular Lines Plotting Points & Ordered Pairs Point-Slope Form Polynomial Division Polynomials Radicals Range Rational & Irrational Expressions Rational Functions Real Roots Real Zeros Relations & Functions Slope Slope-Intercept Form Square Roots Standard Form of a Line System of Equations System of Inequalities Variables X and Y Intercepts

CALCULUS HELP:

• I am well-versed in helping students do well in Calculus I, II & III, Calculus 1, 2 & 3, Business Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Vector Calculus and I am very knowledgeable and proficient in the following calculus topics in alphabetical order:
• Absolute & Local Maximum and Minimum Antiderivative Area & Volume Chain Rule Concavity Continuity Convergence Test Critical Points Curvature Curve of Rotation Curve Sketching Derivatives Divergence Test First & Second Derivative Test Fourier Series Implicit Differentiation Increasing / Decreasing Functions Infinite Series Integrals Integration by Parts Jacobian Matrix Limits L’Hopital’s Rule Maclaurin Series Mean Value Theorem Partial Derivative Product & Quotient Rule Reiman Sum Related Rates Simpson’s Rule Solid of Revolution Substitution Rule Taylor Series

I CAN AID STUDENTS TAKING PROCTORED ASSESSMENTS:

• Proficient in CollegeBoard AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC & AP Statistics exams.
• Skilled with International Baccalaureate Math Exams: IB Maths HL & IB Maths SL
• Can intentionally answer a few problems incorrectly at the student's request.
• Can text solutions to the student while they are taking a proctored exam.
• Upon request, can purposely obtain grades below an A (ex: B+, B, C+, C-).
• I can stretch out the time to a plausible length for timed exams and assignments before submitting them.
• Have reliable software that can change my IP address to match the closest major city near the student.
• I have exceptional multiple-choice exam-taking skills. I have mastered the various techniques to make calculated guesses for the correct option in standardized exams such as the SAT & GRE.

I CAN VERIFY MY ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• I have no problem with requests to solve sample problems upfront to prove my knowledge & proficiency of the course concepts.
• I can provide glowing references & strong examples of work done for past clients to verify my academic skills.
• I can also provide, upon request, complete detailed calculations with explanations for solutions to the problems worked on.
• I am quite skilled and adept in using multiple modernized educational platforms and software, including but not limited to: Brightspace MyStatLab D2L WebAssign Canvas MyMathLab Blackboard ALEKS
• Can format term papers and discussion posts in APA MLA Harvard Chicago Vancouver OSCOLA IEEE format.

I HAVE PAID ACCESS TO OVER 15 STUDY-HELP WEBSITES AND MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE:

• I have multiple paid subscriptions to a wide range of academic tutoring resources, including Chegg, Quizlet, CourseHero, Brainly, Grammarly, Study. com, Bartleby, Slader, Transtutors, Slideshare, StudocU, Turnitin, Academia, SymboLab, WolframAlpha, and Scribd to help guide to solve exam & homework questions that I may not immediately know.
• However, I am smart enough not to blatantly plagiarize solutions online but instead write them in my own unique words, formatting, & mathematical terminology.
• I have access to a very sophisticated graphing calculator and various mathematical software that provides step-by-step solutions to complex mathematical problems within seconds, allowing me to provide exact solutions to the student in a timely manner.
• I have impeccable handwriting and a high-quality mobile scanner app that allows me to scan written solutions in very legible high-definition JPG, PNG, or PDF formats.

MY AVAILABILITY & RELIABILITY:

• Depending on my availability, I can accommodate immediate tutoring requests, 1-24 hour, and 1-30-day deadlines.
• I can schedule live real-time online sessions and meet deadlines in an impressively timely fashion.
• I can provide quick notifications and updates of progress made in the student's class via email text phone calls.
• I can also be available to tutor students for Fall 2021 Spring 2022 Summer 2022 semesters.

MY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE OF EXPERTISE:

• I am very knowledgeable and well-versed in a wide range of educational software to tutor students in including but not limited to: Acellus ALEKS APEX Learning Aplia Blackboard Brightspace Canvas Cengage CengageNow Connect ConnectMath Connexus CPM D2L Discord Edmentum Eviews Examity Excel Hawkes Learning Honorlock Khan Academy Knewton LimeSpring Lumen Maple MasteringChemistry MasteringPhysics MathXL (XL) MATLAB McGraw-Hill Microsoft Word Minitab Moodle MyAccountingLab MyEconLab MyITLab MyLab My Lab MyMathLab My Math Lab MyOpenMath MyPsychLab MySocLab MyStatLab My Stat Lab NCSS Open Source Software Pearson PERT PlatoWeb PowerPoint Prezi R Respondus Lockdown Browser with Webcam Sapling SPSS Stata StraighterLine Straighter Line WebAssign Web Assign Webex (Cisco) WebWork Wiley WileyPlus Wonderlic Zoom

SCHOOLS FROM WHICH I'VE HELPED STUDENTS IN :
As of 2021, I have tutored and helped students enrolled at the following U.S. universities community colleges county & city colleges schools for-profit institutions listed below in alphabetical order:

• A - C: American Public University System (APUS) Arizona State Ashford Brigham Young Brown Broward California State (Fullerton) Capella Chamberlain (Illinois) Colorado Technical Columbia Columbia Southern Cornell
• D - K: Dallas College Dartmouth DeVry Excelsior College Florida International Florida State Full Sail Georgia State Grand Canyon Harvard Houston Community College Ivy Tech Community College Kaplan Kennesaw State Kent State
• L - T: Liberty Lone Star College System Kaplan Miami Dade Michigan State CUNY State University of New York (SUNY) Northern Virginia Ohio State University of Phoenix (UOP) Penn State Princeton Purdue (Davenport) San Diego State San Francisco State San Jose State Southern New Hampshire Southern Nevada Stanford St. Petersburg Strayer Texas Tech
• UNIVERSITY OF: Alabama Arizona California (UC) Central Florida Chicago Cincinnati Florida Houston Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) Iowa Maryland Minnesota Michigan North Texas Pennsylvania Southern Florida Texas Toronto
• U - Z: UCLA Extension Utah State Utah Valley Valencia Walden U Wake Technical Western Governors Wilmington Yale

I OFFER FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLANS:

• I offer several unique payment plans, including a weekly plan, a discounted monthly plan, a discounted half-now / half-later plan, and highly discounted up-front rates.
• I can accept the following payment methods for my services: PayPal Debit Cards Square Cash Credit Cards Cash App Venmo.
• Only people located in North America have access to Venmo Cash App Zelle.
• This is an excellent way to determine if the person you're dealing with is from the United States.
• Within reason, I offer a partial or full money-Back guarantee if the student is very unsatisfied with my academic services.

TUTORING AVAILABLE FOR OTHER SUBJECTS:

• For other subjects, you can reach out to me, and I can connect you with one of my tutoring partners who can provide general academic assistance for the following subjects:
• Art & Design: Art History Design Film Studies
• Business: Accounting (Acc) Biz Courses Business Administration (Biz Admn) Business Calculus Business Law Business Statistics Corporate Finance Economics (Econ) Finance (Fin) Financial Accounting Intermediate Accounting Intermediate Microeconomics (Micro) Macroeconomics (Macro) Management (Mgmt) Managerial Accounting Marketing MBA
• Computer Science: C C++ Computer Programming (Comp) Java Python R (Introduction & Intermediate Level Only)
• Humanities: Communications (Comm) English Literature Essay & Term Paper Writing, Editing, Proofreading Essays History Papers Philosophy (Phil) Religious Studies Theology (Theo)
• Mathematics: A.P. Calculus AB & BC Psychology Statistics AP Statistics Bio statistics Calculus I (1) Calculus II (2) Calculus III (3) College Algebra Differential Equations Discrete Math Finite Math Functions General Math Geometry Liberal Arts Math Linear Algebra Multi-variable Calculus Partial Differential Equations Precalculus Probability Quantitative Reasoning Real Analysis Statistics Trigonometry (Trig) Vector Calculus
• Science & Medicine: Anatomy & Physiology (A & P) Biochemistry Biology (Bio) Biostatistics Earth Science Environmental Science General Chemistry (Chem) Healthcare Medicine Nursing Nutrition Organic Chemistry Physics (Phys)
• Social Sciences: Anthropology Economics (Econ) Geology Law & Justice Liberal Arts Liberal Studies Political Science Psychology Sociology

THE OBLIGATORY "IS THIS A SCAM?" QUESTION:
Considering the fact that you found my contact information online, it’s understandable to be skeptical regarding the legitimacy of my services. Therefore, I’m willing to do all of the following to help you feel more secure in trusting me with your academic needs:

• 1) Speak with you on the phone and answer any questions you may have so that you have the opportunity to assess and analyze my tone, articulation, accent, diction, dialect, regionalisms, pitch, vocabulary, word choice, intonations, and inflections.
• NOTE: I’m a New Jersey-born Irish/Italian-American, but I have been told that I speak in an erudite & articulate suburban American accent with a “professor style” voice somewhat resembling the voice of actor: Ben Stein.
• 2) Agree to do some homework questions of yours upfront with the work fully shown in real-time to prove my mastery of the course content.
• 3) Send you screenshots of at least five past scores I attained from completing exams & homework assignments for other students in the same type of class you need help with.
• 4) Send you full screenshots of written exam solutions I wrote up by hand for students in the past in the same course that you need help with so that you can see my neat handwriting.
• 5) Provide you with the contact information of students who have utilized my services in the past who would be more than willing to vouch for my skills.

MY TEAM'S CLASSES OF EXPERTISE:

• Statistics: AP Statistics Biostatistics Business Statistics Elementary Statistics Intro to Statistics Psychology Statistics Social Science Statistics Statistics & Probability Statistical Methods Statistical & Probability Models
• Math: Advanced Functions Algebra Calculus 1, 2, 3 (and 4 in some schools) Vector Calculus Differential Calculus Integral Calculus Multivariable Calculus Differential Equations Discrete Math Discrete Structures Finite Mathematics Functions Geometry Linear Algebra Precalculus Probability Real Analysis Statistics Trigonometry Quantitative Methods & Reasoning
• Science: Anatomy & Physiology Astronomy Biochemistry Biology Chemistry (General, Inorganic & Organic) Dental / Pre-Dental Earth Science Engineering (Almost All Types) Environmental Science Epidemiology Fluid & Mechanics Geology Geophysics Medicine / Pre-Med Microbiology Neuroscience Physics Physical Science
• Business: Accounting Auditing Banking Business Administration Business Law Corporate Finance Cost Accounting Econometrics Economics Finance Financial Institutions Financial Reporting Global Economics Governance International Economics Macroeconomics Management Marketing MBA Courses Mergers and Acquisitions Microeconomics Operations Management Principles of Accounting Real Estate Taxation
• English: Business Writing Creative Writing Critical Reading Digital Media Eastern Literature English Literature Essays Expository & Persuasive Writing Fiction Writing Greek and Roman Philosophy Grammar Poetry
• Humanities & Social Sciences: Architecture Anthropology Art History Communication Criminal Justice Forestry Ethnic Studies Film History Law Pre-Law Music Philosophy Political Science Psychology Psychiatry Religious Studies Sociology Theology Women Studies
• Computer Science & Programming: Android AWS Azure Blockchain Cryptocurrency Smart Contracts C C# C++ Cloud Computer Organization and Assembly Languages CSS Data Science Data Structures and Algorithms Deep Learning Design Patterns Game Design and Development iOS Java Javascript Machine Learning MATLAB MySQL Networking NoSQL Object Oriented Programming Operating Systems PHP Principles of Computer Science Programming for Virtual Reality Programming Languages Python R Robotics Ruby Software Engineering SQL Swift Web Development

MY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE OF EXPERTISE:

• Acellus ALEKS Aplia APEX Learning Badgr Blackboard Blink Learning Brightspace / D2L Canvas Cengage CengageNow Childsmath Cisco ConnectMath Connexus CPM Crowdmark EViews Edmentum Examity Excel Garch Google Classroom Google Education Gradescope Hawkes Learning Honorlock iClicker InQuizitive (Norton) Java Kaltura Khan Academy Knewton Kryterion LaunchPad MATLAB Maple MasteringChemistry MasteringPhysics MathXL Mathematica McGraw-Hill Connect MegaStat Microsoft Teams Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint Mindtap Minitab MonitorEDU Moodle MyAccountingLab MyEconLab MyFinanceLab MyITLab MyMathLab MyOpenMath MyPsychLab MySocLab MyStatLab NCSS Outlier Pearson MyLab and Mastering Piazza PlatoWeb Prezi Proctor360 Proctorio Proctortrack Python R Respondus Lockdown Browser with Webcam SAM Sapling SAS SPSS Socrative Stata StraighterLine Turnitin VoiceThread WebAssign WebEx WebWork Wiley WileyPlus Zoom

MY REBUTTAL TO THE OBLIGATORY “IS THIS A SCAM?” QUESTION:
At the risk of sounding arrogant, I consider myself to be at least marginally more intelligent (both academically & socially) than the average person. Therefore, if I ever decided to suddenly risk prison time, risk my reputation, and risk enduring the wrath of modern-day “cancel culture” by scamming people out of their money:

• I certainly wouldn’t do it for such paltry amounts of money. (i.e., anything less than $1,000 per victim.)
• I certainly wouldn’t choose high school & college students as my “target audience” to scam, considering that most people without college degrees have abysmally low annual incomes. Why choose low-income victims when it would be much more profitable to target high-income, high-net-worth individuals earning at least six figures a year? I have knowledge in business consulting, and I promise you that a business owner would be a MUCH more lucrative mark than a low-income college student.
• I wouldn’t choose such a time & energy-draining method of scamming people. Also, communicating back and forth with potential clients is an absurdly long time sink since only less than 10% of all potential clients who reach out to me actually become paying clients of mine. This means that 90% of my time communicating with potential clients ultimately proves to be a colossal waste of my irretrievable time & energy.
• If you pay me to provide academic services and I don’t deliver, you can always dispute the payment with the payment app and easily get your money refunded. If I were in the habit of swindling money from people, then all of my payment accounts would have been investigated and be completely shut down by now. And I would have been permanently banned from opening new accounts. Therefore, the fact that all my payment apps have been fully active for years should be sufficient proof that I haven’t had people consistently disputing payments sent to me.

HOW TO CONTACT ME:

• If you are interested in my services and would like to learn more info, please feel free to reach out to me.
• Text messages and email are the fastest and easiest ways to get in touch with me. However, I gladly accept phone calls.
• If I don't respond right away, I am most likely helping a student at the time and not currently available to speak on the phone. But I always make a solid effort to reply to texts, emails, and phone calls within an hour.

Contact Details for Hiraedu Helper:
WhatsApp: +1 (213) 594-5657
Call: +1 727 456 9641
Website: hiraedu. com
Email: info@hiraedu. com
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Answering short questions in the PTE (Pearson Test of English) can be both challenging and crucial for your score. Here are some tips and important questions you should focus on:
Listen Carefully: Pay close attention to the question being asked. Sometimes, the answers can be tricky and may require careful listening.
Be Concise: The name says it all - "short questions." Your answers should be brief and to the point. Avoid unnecessary elaboration.
Practice Regularly: Familiarize yourself with the types of questions asked in this section. There are common themes and topics that often appear, so practicing regularly will help you anticipate what to expect.
Key Vocabulary: Build a strong vocabulary base. Many answers can be inferred from the context, so knowing key words and their meanings will aid comprehension.
Grammar Matters: While the answers are short, correct grammar is still essential. Pay attention to verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and word order.
Now, here are some important questions that frequently appear in the PTE short answer section:

• What is the capital of France?
• Who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
• What is the chemical symbol for water?
• How many continents are there in the world?
• Who discovered penicillin?

Remember, while these questions may seem straightforward, it's easy to make mistakes if you're not adequately prepared. Practice, focus, and confidence are key to acing this section of the PTE!

The IELTS speaking test is a component of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which assesses the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. The speaking test evaluates a candidate's ability to communicate effectively in English through a face-to-face interview with a certified examiner. Through physical IELTS classes and IELTS online classes, students can practise how to face the speaking component of the test.

The speaking test for IELTS Sri Lanka usually lasts around 11 to 14 minutes and is divided into three parts:
· Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes) - The examiner introduces themselves and asks the candidate to introduce themselves and answer some questions about familiar topics such as family, work, studies, hobbies, etc.
· Part 2: Long Turn (3-4 minutes) - The candidate is given a task card with a particular topic written on it. They are given one minute to prepare and make notes, then they speak about the topic for up to two minutes. This part tests the ability to speak at length on a given topic without interruption.
· Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes) - The examiner asks further questions related to the topic of Part 2. This part aims to assess the candidate's ability to express and justify opinions, analyse and discuss abstract issues, and speculate about the future.

The speaking test is conducted face-to-face with a certified examiner, and it is recorded for evaluation purposes. It assesses various aspects of spoken English, including fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, and pronunciation. Candidates are graded on a scale of 0 to 9, with 9 being the highest score, based on their performance in all three parts of the test.

In the IELTS speaking test, there are several "don'ts" that candidates should avoid to perform well:
· Don't give yes/no answers: Try to expand your answers instead of just saying "yes" or "no". Provide explanations, examples, and details to showcase your speaking skills.
· Don't memorise answers: While it is good to prepare, avoid memorising scripted responses. Examiners can usually detect rehearsed answers, and it may negatively affect your score.
· Don't speak too fast or too slow: Maintain a natural pace of speech. Speaking too quickly may make you difficult to understand, while speaking too slowly can make you appear hesitant or lacking confidence.
· Don't ignore grammar and vocabulary: Pay attention to your grammar and vocabulary usage. Use a range of grammatical structures and vocabulary to demonstrate your proficiency in English.
· Don't panic if you don't understand a question: If you don't understand a question, don't be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat or clarify it. It is better to ask for clarification than to provide an irrelevant answer.
· Don't focus solely on accuracy: While accuracy is important, fluency and coherence are also key factors in your speaking score. Don't get too caught up in trying to be perfect; focus on communicating your ideas effectively.
· Don't give one-word answers in Part 3: In Part 3, avoid giving brief responses. This section is designed to assess your ability to engage in extended discussion and express opinions. Provide detailed and well-developed responses.
· Don't ignore pronunciation: Pay attention to your pronunciation, intonation, and stress patterns. Clear pronunciation enhances your overall communication and makes it easier for the examiner to understand you.
· Don't forget to listen to the examiner: Actively listen to the examiner's questions and prompts. This shows that you can engage in a conversation and respond appropriately.
· Don't rush through Part 2: Take your time to plan your response in Part 2. Use the one-minute preparation time wisely to jot down key points and organise your ideas before you start speaking.

By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can improve your performance in the IELTS speaking test and achieve a higher score. You can follow a good preparatory course in order to be better prepared for this test. The IELTS Sri Lanka course fee varies from institute to institute, and you can find one that suits your budget easily.

Here we go again! Sorry this was late I was in ER.
This is a post that I’ll be trying to make weekly to help gain traction for novels or series that we as a community want to be given more attention. I am currently focusing on novels of our genre that have 300 or less reviews and less than 5 stars.
That’s the range I believe that we could make the most difference with positive reviews, comments, feedback for authors in this genre. If enough of us found a lesser known book like Greatest Dragon Rider In The West, Wings over Marseilles, or Thule the fast food barbarian we could make the difference. It’s straight up a numbers game if we share the love of these books and novels with each other.
Some of these fictions are so close to joining the success list! Please don’t stop supporting now!
Strength unleashed Ajax lygan
Fall to the forest deacon frost
Dark lords commands me thorne
Peach valley defense force Kirk mason
Soulborne by Rowan raine
Wings over marsaille Lucas Webber
Slime keeper Leon west
Greatest dragon rider in the west Trevor arctus
Brandless Isaac keyes
Lazy dragon queen ace arriande
Magic steampunk pirate booty Grady sparks
Wings and tails Isaac Lee
The bawdy ballads of bodrick the bard V knightley and Serena Silverlake
Thule the fast food barbarian Virgil Knightley
Heavy Metal mana ace Stratton
Goetic Justice SnekGuy (all of this authors work is criminally undiscovered)
Kevin’s kitty rescue Montgomery Quinn
Monster girl thieves guild milo storm
The adventures of Delvin Walsh JG Jerome
The Einherjar by JL Harrie
Full frontal galaxy Arron crash(free on audible right now)!!!!!
Quest and Conquer by Kaz Velveto
Celestial Knight D R Rosiero
Venus online J zenith
Game of planets Marcus Sloss
Monster girl dungeon by Danielle Mains
Incubus RA parts 3- 6 and prequel by Virgil Knightley
King of Christmas town Hercules West
Vixen AD Lara X Lust
Supernatural travel agency Dante king
Solar dragons need love too 7 Virgil Knightley
Now again these are ones where I’m shooting for 300 or less reviews
Please if you could help add to this list we can actually make a difference and keep this genre strong by giving these novels the attention they deserve. Turn a hidden gem into a bright light in a market and a world that often seems too dim of creativity and variety. The quality and quantity are out there if we lend a hand to our fellow readers and authors.
one last thing and it’s not required. If you do decide to suggest a book, say why you loved it.
And now the most exciting news!! we have even more successes! As of this week 7 there are 8 novels above 300 and more that are almost there! (Numbers updated as of tonight)
Raconteur by Kirk Mason now sits at 350!!
The Last Real Man 1 by J Foster Ward now sits at 332!!
Solar dragons need love too 6 hit 306!!
Chronicles of Grove 1 by Callen Clearwater is now at 316!!
Son of the Hero King Hikaru Genji now sits at 340!!
Dashing Devil: Hidden Hero G D Brooks sits at 308!!!
Incubus R A 2 by Virgil Knightley has reached 302!!!
Soul Knight 1 by JJ Bookerson is at 343!!
May be doing a post of just omnibuses on Wednesdays soon but not quite yet. Thank you to the authors and readers that answered my questions about them.
It’s heartwarming to check these novels each week and see those numbers rise. Everyone, you rock.
Edit for wk 7. A lot of the novels in the “success” section are already on their way to beating 400. It would be amazing for this subreddit and those authors if they broke that barrier before I even moved on to it!! But

Listen to the most recent Vicious Syndicate podcast here - https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/vs-data-reaper-podcast-episode-162/
Read the most recent VS Report here - https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/vs-data-reaper-report-293/
As always, glad to do these summaries, but a summary won't be able to cover everything and can miss nuances, so I highly recommend listening to their podcast as well. The next VS report for Whizbang's Workshop will be out Wednesday May 22nd (mainly due to balance changes being likely on the 23rd), with the next podcast likely next weekend. A comprehensive preview article for the upcoming miniset will come out tomorrow (May 13th) on VS's website.
Death Knight - Death Knight is currently a zombie class, so it needed desperate help in the miniset. ZachO says he's not too excited about the Death Knight cards. Foamrender is potentially an infinite weapon for Rainbow DK, but it does compete with Corpse Bride as a corpse spender. The weapon might be a fit in the slower, more reactive build that was popular for most of the expansion. ZachO wonders if you even bother running the card or if you just rely on discovering it off of Runes of Darkness to make it a 6 attack weapon. He thinks the card will have an impact regardless of if it's run or not. Toysnatching Geist is a pseudo handbuff payoff, but ZachO's not a fan of the card. Generally, at the point in the game you would play this in a handbuff deck, the mana cheat payoff starts to become less relevant. There's also high variance in the Undead pool, and whatever you discover doesn't get the previous handbuffs you've used. Squash thought Toysnatching Geist would be similar to Window Shopper when he first saw the card, but mentions the Undead pool has way too much variance compared to the Demon pool. On curve the card is worse than Nerubian Vizier. The Gigantify version of the card can give you a big discount in the late game, but at that point every late game deck likely has an answer to whatever you develop. Helm of Humiliation's 2x Blood rune restriction seems baffling, and even if it was 1 rune the card is likely to still not be good. As the card stands now, it's Righteous Defense for 1 more mana and the rune restriction means you can't play Reska in the same deck. Squash says the thing he doesn't like about Foamrender for Rainbow DK is that it's another 5 mana corpse spending card, and there's already a logjam with Corpse Bride and Army of the Dead in that archetype at 5 mana.
Demon Hunter - Sock Puppet Slitherspear is a 1 drop Naga, so it instantly goes into the Sharpshooter variant of Shopper DH and Naga DH. If DH sees play, this card will see play. Outside of Slitherspear, ZachO and Squash aren't impressed with the other DH cards. Return Policy is slightly better than Nine Lives and it can run with Umpire's Grasp, but that synergy doesn't matter if you've already drawn your Shoppers. There are not enough powerful Deathrattles in DH to justify the card. Squash thinks it's a bigger picture card that gets better with more Deathrattle support. Gibbering Reject might be an okay discover off of Shopper in some situations, but neither ZachO nor Squash want to main deck it. Summoning 2 3/3s for 4 mana isn't even that powerful. There's a turn 8 play with the card and Going Down Swinging to fill your board, but that's still very late.
Druid - ZachO thinks Snuggle Teddy is unplayable because you'll never have time to play the 8 mana version of it. If you can safely play an 8 mana 8/8 in an aggro matchup, you're already winning that game. The 3 drop body is okay in the early game against small minions, but it's not that great if there's anything with 4+ attack on the opposing board. He thinks Elusive is somewhat overrated as a keyword since there are a lot of non targeted removal effects, AoE effects, and Rush minions in the game. Squash likes Toyrantus but ZachO also thinks the card is bad and compares it to Soggoth. 14/14 in stats is massive, but it requires you to be at 10 mana and there's too much removal that can deal with it at that point. You might be able to run the card in Reno Druid, but do you really want to draw this card off of Summer Flowerchild? Overgrown Beanstalk is the card that is most likely to see play, but Treant Druid needs to pop up for the card to be viable, and that archetype is currently nowhere on ladder. Beanstalk is a powerful draw engine for the archetype, so there's a chance it brings back the archetype, but ZachO wouldn't be overly excited to play Treant Druid. Even if Snuggle Teddy and Toyrantus are good enough to be the final cards you add to Reno Druid, the cards are bland and don't change how the deck fundamentally plays. Druid's miniset feels weird because none of the cards "talk" to any of the existing cards from Whizbang.
Hunter - Squash thinks Product 9 is very powerful, and ZachO agrees. Reno Hunter is competitively viable right now even if it doesn't see much play, and Product 9 can immediately fit into it. ZachO likes Bargain Bin and thinks it's one of the better secrets Hunter has received. Similar to Dirty Tricks in Rogue, but you can't play around the card. It has great synergy with Starstrung Bow. Only downside of Bargain Bin is that later in the game it's more likely to only draw 1 card since it's more likely you've drawn all your weapons. ZachO thinks in Reno Hunter you switch out Bait and Switch for Bargain Bin and run Observer of Mysteries for additional secret synergy for Product 9. With the rumored nerf to Saddle Up, interest in Reno Hunter might rise, and there's a chance Secret Hunter might also be playable. Wilderness Pack is unplayable. Squash points out the synergy with Mountain Giant and the packs filling your hand, but it's likely not good enough by itself.
Mage - Squash thinks Darkmoon Magician is a complete joke. ZachO jokes that a "Miracle Mage" style deck could play a bunch of cheap garbage spells on turn 7/8 to get a worse effect than Yogg in the Box. It is worth noting that because Elusive is on the card, it cannot target and kill itself with the random spells you cast. Malfunction is the one playable Mage card from the miniset. It's very consistent early game removal, which is something Spell Mage currently struggles with. The problem is Spell Mage has a 40% winrate, and it's hard to imagine this card alone lifts the archetype's winrate more than a few percentage points. Buy One, Get One Freeze is bad Reverberations. Even if you copy a Titan with it, you can't use its effect the turn you play the card. ZachO says the only Mage deck that Reverb has been good in is Rainbow Mage, and the reason it works in that deck is because of the additional utilization it has to copy Sif. Squash says the frustrating thing about Malfunction is that the only Spell Mage variant that has looked anywhere close to viable is the burn heavy variant that runs Lightshow and Stargazing. Because Malfunction is an Arcane card, it can mess up the Stargazing draw, but ZachO says that does help with aggressive matchups. He would be more excited if the card did face damage, but he feels like Team 5 was cautious with the card.
Paladin - Paladin got some strong Holy spell synergy cards, but they're reliant on Paladin having strong Holy spells, which the class currently doesn't have much of. Holy Glowsticks is a good card and a direct upgrade from Void Shard. Hi-Ho Silverwing's draw does make the card more consistent. Aggressive board centric decks getting offboard damage is always welcomed, and it's also a good defensive tool for slower decks. The problem is there are no current defensive Paladin decks. Flickering Lightbot would be much stronger if a card like Holy Makyroll was still in Standard, but right now Paladin is not spell centric to effectively discount the card, and there are no defensive keywords on it. Boogey Down, Hand of Adal, and Crusader's Aura are the only Holy spells you feel good about running right now. These feel like more "big picture" cards. Whack A Gnoll is Runes of Darkness without a condition to activate the +1/+1, but the weapon pool is much less consistent. ZachO says looking at the Paladin weapon pool, it's pretty bad. However, even bad weapons can become good if you give them +1/+1, so maybe it's good enough to give an aggressive Paladin deck more reach.
Priest - Squash thinks Funhouse Mirror is a strong card, but ZachO is more skeptical of it. It looks bad compared to The Light It Burns, but almost all removal does. Main upside of the card would be copying a Titan or a high impact Deathrattle. The card seems fringe as another conditional Priest removal spell. ZachO says Puppet Theatre scares him, because if that card is ever good it's uninstall Hearthstone material. It can choke out powerful late game battlecry minions, and Priest getting a 1 mana copy can be very punishing. The location is unplayable in faster matchups, but it could be toxic if it's ever good. Delayed Product is a waste of time. It has no direction or synergy. Priest set in general right now looks like a skip.
Rogue - Dubious Purchase is a good card. Twisted Pack would have been good with prenerf Gaslight Gatekeeper, but it feels too slow now. Dust Bunny seems somewhat inconsistent with the things it can give you (Rock and Coin are good, Banana and Knife are not). ZachO does think Gaslight Gatekeeper may have been a pre-emptive nerf because of Twisted Pack being added into the miniset. He does think Twisted Pack might see play in a Cutlass Rogue deck, and of all the packs it's arguably the best one. Because "Pack" cards follow the rules of traditional packs with the card rarities it gives you, you're likely to get a bunch of common cards, which tend to be cheap. ZachO does think Dust Bunny is better than Bounty Wrangler, but he also thinks the only great outcome of the card is if it gives you a coin. ZachO thinks Rogue's set would be the best if Gaslight Gatekeeper were still 3 mana, because all these cards add more cards to your hand for Gatekeeper.
Shaman - Murloc Growfin is an Alley Cat with one of the bodies having Rush, and the Gigantify version has strong synergy with Shudderblock. Both ZachO and Squash agree this is one of the best cards of the miniset. It's a strong card in both early game and the late game. Squash points out that Growfin's 2 bodies on turn 1 means you can have a turn 2 target for Trusty Companion to tutor out your other Growfin in a duplicate deck. Wave of Nostalgia is similar to Stormbringer, but it's not playable if your opponent has a board since the effect is symmetrical. ZachO thinks Rocket Hopper would be good if the Overload were only 3 since you could play Thorim the next turn on curve. The problem with Rocket Hopper is that Command of Neptulon did the same thing for significantly less of an Overload downside. Squash says the one combo you can do with the card is being able to play Flowrider into Overdraft the following turn, but it doesn't feel like there's a current deck you can fit that into. Because the card causes you to essentially skip your next turn, if your opponent has removal for it, you basically lose the game.
Warlock - Mass Production is draw 2 for 1 mana, but it is a weird card. You technically can't hit fatigue running the card, but you'll eventually kill yourself if you keep playing it. If Wheel Warlock was still around, the card would have been great in it. It feels like an easy inclusion in Painlock and Insanity Warlock. The card can mess up your later draws if a key card is stuck at the bottom of your deck. Domino Effect is an interesting effect, but both ZachO and Squash say they have no idea how to evaluate the card. Both are unsure of how the card resolves (does a minion need to live in order for the effect to continue?), so they need to see it live play before they can properly evaluate the card. INFERNAL! doesn't deal damage to your hero, so it doesn't discount Horror. However, it does accelerate Molten Giants and it is a 4 mana 6/6 with Taunt, so it may see play in Painlock. Squash points out the card can be a big heal if you're at very low health in Painlock. ZachO initially seems skeptical about the card but comes around to it in Painlock.
Warrior - The Warrior set is arguably the one set that "speaks" best to its Whizbang set. ZachO thinks Part Scrapper is the strongest card in the set and the most likely one to be nerfed. Safety Expert might be the card that actually makes Chemical Spill work. Dream curve is playing Boom Wrench on 4 and Chemical Spill on 5 to load up your opponent's deck with bombs. Later in the game, you can activate the Deathrattle even more or bring it out via Inventor Boom. This is strong inevitability. Safety Expert or Zilliax can also be cheated out earlier using Part Scrapper in combination with either Safety Googles or Armor Vendor. Squash asks if Testing Dummy would fit in this archetype, and ZachO points out that because Chemical Spill pulls out the highest cost minion, it's unlikely to hit Testing Dummy most of the time. Town Crier and Instrument Tech can also tutor out Boomwrench and Safety Expert to make them more consistent. ZachO thinks it might be better focusing on survivability with your bombs being the late game inevitability. Squash mentions Quality Assurance also tutors out Testing Dummy, so whatever direction the deck goes it'll have consistency. Standardized Pack is unplayable. Bomb Warrior seems like the most likely new archetype to emerge from the miniset.
Neutrals - Explodineer feels like a card that was meant for Warrior, but they ran out of class space so they put it in as a neutral (which isn't a bad thing). Pro Gamer is a funny card, but it's terrible. Losing the RPS is so bad because the opponent can immediately play their cards. Building-Block Golem is a card that looks good for decks that go wide (maybe Aggro Paladin), but the stat line is a bit clunky. ZachO doesn't like the card against slower decks that tend to not play a lot of minions, because the body could be stranded. Potentially a good card, but may not have a place in a current deck. Does provide a big discount to Ticking Pylon Zilliax though. ZachO is not a fan of The Replicator-inator. It's a creative card, but its use may be limited. Squash mentions you can copy the Paladin Titan with the mini, but Paladin may not want to play a 5 mana 5/5. Seems pointless to play the 8 mana version. The mini has some applications, but the initial 5/5 body seems very slow and weak. Squash doesn't think the card is hopeless, but it needs a very specific target for it to be worth running. ZachO and Squash think Puppetmaster Dorian is the more compelling Legendary. Could be powerful with cheap draw (Mass Production or Gear Shift). There's more potential for the card since it is a powerful effect on paper, especially with tutor effects. This combo does have a cute combo in Wild with Psyche Melon since it can draw all of the Aviana/Kun pieces and play them the same turn. ZachO says he does like the card in Druid because the class has ramp and tutors. This is a thought provoking card because it's an interesting puzzle piece to figure out where it belongs.
Other miscellaneous talking points -

• ZachO and Squash think this miniset feels more like a prelude to the next expansion than an addendum to Whizbang's set, because so many of the cards have synergies that have come out of nowhere. A lot of these cards don't "speak" to the previous expansion cards (ex - Druid getting a Treant card, DH getting a Deathrattle focused card, Paladin getting Holy spell synergy cards, everything Priest got). They think this is a relatively low powered miniset, but there are things they want to play around with. ZachO thinks this miniset was more cautious because of the last 2 minisets breaking the game at various points, which he's not a big fan of. He'd rather see more brave design that gets nerfed in the next patch if it does end up breaking the game. Assuming Reno Warrior gets nuked out of playability, the possibility of Mech Warrior being playable is welcomed, and we may also see a rise in Reno Hunter interest. ZachO and Squash are really not fans of the direction of Priest getting overly reactive cards, because these cards will either be flat out bad or unbearable to play against. Assuming Brann is nuked, hopefully new late game strategies open up and the best thing to do in the late game isn't Excavate Rogue.

Listen to the most recent Vicious Syndicate podcast here - https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/vs-data-reaper-podcast-episode-162/
Read the most recent VS Report here - https://www.vicioussyndicate.com/vs-data-reaper-report-293/
As always, glad to do these summaries, but a summary won't be able to cover everything and can miss nuances, so I highly recommend listening to their podcast as well. The next VS report for Whizbang's Workshop will be out Wednesday May 22nd (mainly due to balance changes being likely on the 23rd), with the next podcast likely next weekend. A comprehensive preview article for the upcoming miniset will come out tomorrow (May 13th) on VS's website.
Death Knight - Death Knight is currently a zombie class, so it needed desperate help in the miniset. ZachO says he's not too excited about the Death Knight cards. Foamrender is potentially an infinite weapon for Rainbow DK, but it does compete with Corpse Bride as a corpse spender. The weapon might be a fit in the slower, more reactive build that was popular for most of the expansion. ZachO wonders if you even bother running the card or if you just rely on discovering it off of Runes of Darkness to make it a 6 attack weapon. He thinks the card will have an impact regardless of if it's run or not. Toysnatching Geist is a pseudo handbuff payoff, but ZachO's not a fan of the card. Generally, at the point in the game you would play this in a handbuff deck, the mana cheat payoff starts to become less relevant. There's also high variance in the Undead pool, and whatever you discover doesn't get the previous handbuffs you've used. Squash thought Toysnatching Geist would be similar to Window Shopper when he first saw the card, but mentions the Undead pool has way too much variance compared to the Demon pool. On curve the card is worse than Nerubian Vizier. The Gigantify version of the card can give you a big discount in the late game, but at that point every late game deck likely has an answer to whatever you develop. Helm of Humiliation's 2x Blood rune restriction seems baffling, and even if it was 1 rune the card is likely to still not be good. As the card stands now, it's Righteous Defense for 1 more mana and the rune restriction means you can't play Reska in the same deck. Squash says the thing he doesn't like about Foamrender for Rainbow DK is that it's another 5 mana corpse spending card, and there's already a logjam with Corpse Bride and Army of the Dead in that archetype at 5 mana.
Demon Hunter - Sock Puppet Slitherspear is a 1 drop Naga, so it instantly goes into the Sharpshooter variant of Shopper DH and Naga DH. If DH sees play, this card will see play. Outside of Slitherspear, ZachO and Squash aren't impressed with the other DH cards. Return Policy is slightly better than Nine Lives and it can run with Umpire's Grasp, but that synergy doesn't matter if you've already drawn your Shoppers. There are not enough powerful Deathrattles in DH to justify the card. Squash thinks it's a bigger picture card that gets better with more Deathrattle support. Gibbering Reject might be an okay discover off of Shopper in some situations, but neither ZachO nor Squash want to main deck it. Summoning 2 3/3s for 4 mana isn't even that powerful. There's a turn 8 play with the card and Going Down Swinging to fill your board, but that's still very late.
Druid - ZachO thinks Snuggle Teddy is unplayable because you'll never have time to play the 8 mana version of it. If you can safely play an 8 mana 8/8 in an aggro matchup, you're already winning that game. The 3 drop body is okay in the early game against small minions, but it's not that great if there's anything with 4+ attack on the opposing board. He thinks Elusive is somewhat overrated as a keyword since there are a lot of non targeted removal effects, AoE effects, and Rush minions in the game. Squash likes Toyrantus but ZachO also thinks the card is bad and compares it to Soggoth. 14/14 in stats is massive, but it requires you to be at 10 mana and there's too much removal that can deal with it at that point. You might be able to run the card in Reno Druid, but do you really want to draw this card off of Summer Flowerchild? Overgrown Beanstalk is the card that is most likely to see play, but Treant Druid needs to pop up for the card to be viable, and that archetype is currently nowhere on ladder. Beanstalk is a powerful draw engine for the archetype, so there's a chance it brings back the archetype, but ZachO wouldn't be overly excited to play Treant Druid. Even if Snuggle Teddy and Toyrantus are good enough to be the final cards you add to Reno Druid, the cards are bland and don't change how the deck fundamentally plays. Druid's miniset feels weird because none of the cards "talk" to any of the existing cards from Whizbang.
Hunter - Squash thinks Product 9 is very powerful, and ZachO agrees. Reno Hunter is competitively viable right now even if it doesn't see much play, and Product 9 can immediately fit into it. ZachO likes Bargain Bin and thinks it's one of the better secrets Hunter has received. Similar to Dirty Tricks in Rogue, but you can't play around the card. It has great synergy with Starstrung Bow. Only downside of Bargain Bin is that later in the game it's more likely to only draw 1 card since it's more likely you've drawn all your weapons. ZachO thinks in Reno Hunter you switch out Bait and Switch for Bargain Bin and run Observer of Mysteries for additional secret synergy for Product 9. With the rumored nerf to Saddle Up, interest in Reno Hunter might rise, and there's a chance Secret Hunter might also be playable. Wilderness Pack is unplayable. Squash points out the synergy with Mountain Giant and the packs filling your hand, but it's likely not good enough by itself.
Mage - Squash thinks Darkmoon Magician is a complete joke. ZachO jokes that a "Miracle Mage" style deck could play a bunch of cheap garbage spells on turn 7/8 to get a worse effect than Yogg in the Box. It is worth noting that because Elusive is on the card, it cannot target and kill itself with the random spells you cast. Malfunction is the one playable Mage card from the miniset. It's very consistent early game removal, which is something Spell Mage currently struggles with. The problem is Spell Mage has a 40% winrate, and it's hard to imagine this card alone lifts the archetype's winrate more than a few percentage points. Buy One, Get One Freeze is bad Reverberations. Even if you copy a Titan with it, you can't use its effect the turn you play the card. ZachO says the only Mage deck that Reverb has been good in is Rainbow Mage, and the reason it works in that deck is because of the additional utilization it has to copy Sif. Squash says the frustrating thing about Malfunction is that the only Spell Mage variant that has looked anywhere close to viable is the burn heavy variant that runs Lightshow and Stargazing. Because Malfunction is an Arcane card, it can mess up the Stargazing draw, but ZachO says that does help with aggressive matchups. He would be more excited if the card did face damage, but he feels like Team 5 was cautious with the card.
Paladin - Paladin got some strong Holy spell synergy cards, but they're reliant on Paladin having strong Holy spells, which the class currently doesn't have much of. Holy Glowsticks is a good card and a direct upgrade from Void Shard. Hi-Ho Silverwing's draw does make the card more consistent. Aggressive board centric decks getting offboard damage is always welcomed, and it's also a good defensive tool for slower decks. The problem is there are no current defensive Paladin decks. Flickering Lightbot would be much stronger if a card like Holy Makyroll was still in Standard, but right now Paladin is not spell centric to effectively discount the card, and there are no defensive keywords on it. Boogey Down, Hand of Adal, and Crusader's Aura are the only Holy spells you feel good about running right now. These feel like more "big picture" cards. Whack A Gnoll is Runes of Darkness without a condition to activate the +1/+1, but the weapon pool is much less consistent. ZachO says looking at the Paladin weapon pool, it's pretty bad. However, even bad weapons can become good if you give them +1/+1, so maybe it's good enough to give an aggressive Paladin deck more reach.
Priest - Squash thinks Funhouse Mirror is a strong card, but ZachO is more skeptical of it. It looks bad compared to The Light It Burns, but almost all removal does. Main upside of the card would be copying a Titan or a high impact Deathrattle. The card seems fringe as another conditional Priest removal spell. ZachO says Puppet Theatre scares him, because if that card is ever good it's uninstall Hearthstone material. It can choke out powerful late game battlecry minions, and Priest getting a 1 mana copy can be very punishing. The location is unplayable in faster matchups, but it could be toxic if it's ever good. Delayed Product is a waste of time. It has no direction or synergy. Priest set in general right now looks like a skip.
Rogue - Dubious Purchase is a good card. Twisted Pack would have been good with prenerf Gaslight Gatekeeper, but it feels too slow now. Dust Bunny seems somewhat inconsistent with the things it can give you (Rock and Coin are good, Banana and Knife are not). ZachO does think Gaslight Gatekeeper may have been a pre-emptive nerf because of Twisted Pack being added into the miniset. He does think Twisted Pack might see play in a Cutlass Rogue deck, and of all the packs it's arguably the best one. Because "Pack" cards follow the rules of traditional packs with the card rarities it gives you, you're likely to get a bunch of common cards, which tend to be cheap. ZachO does think Dust Bunny is better than Bounty Wrangler, but he also thinks the only great outcome of the card is if it gives you a coin. ZachO thinks Rogue's set would be the best if Gaslight Gatekeeper were still 3 mana, because all these cards add more cards to your hand for Gatekeeper.
Shaman - Murloc Growfin is an Alley Cat with one of the bodies having Rush, and the Gigantify version has strong synergy with Shudderblock. Both ZachO and Squash agree this is one of the best cards of the miniset. It's a strong card in both early game and the late game. Squash points out that Growfin's 2 bodies on turn 1 means you can have a turn 2 target for Trusty Companion to tutor out your other Growfin in a duplicate deck. Wave of Nostalgia is similar to Stormbringer, but it's not playable if your opponent has a board since the effect is symmetrical. ZachO thinks Rocket Hopper would be good if the Overload were only 3 since you could play Thorim the next turn on curve. The problem with Rocket Hopper is that Command of Neptulon did the same thing for significantly less of an Overload downside. Squash says the one combo you can do with the card is being able to play Flowrider into Overdraft the following turn, but it doesn't feel like there's a current deck you can fit that into. Because the card causes you to essentially skip your next turn, if your opponent has removal for it, you basically lose the game.
Warlock - Mass Production is draw 2 for 1 mana, but it is a weird card. You technically can't hit fatigue running the card, but you'll eventually kill yourself if you keep playing it. If Wheel Warlock was still around, the card would have been great in it. It feels like an easy inclusion in Painlock and Insanity Warlock. The card can mess up your later draws if a key card is stuck at the bottom of your deck. Domino Effect is an interesting effect, but both ZachO and Squash say they have no idea how to evaluate the card. Both are unsure of how the card resolves (does a minion need to live in order for the effect to continue?), so they need to see it live play before they can properly evaluate the card. INFERNAL! doesn't deal damage to your hero, so it doesn't discount Horror. However, it does accelerate Molten Giants and it is a 4 mana 6/6 with Taunt, so it may see play in Painlock. Squash points out the card can be a big heal if you're at very low health in Painlock. ZachO initially seems skeptical about the card but comes around to it in Painlock.
Warrior - The Warrior set is arguably the one set that "speaks" best to its Whizbang set. ZachO thinks Part Scrapper is the strongest card in the set and the most likely one to be nerfed. Safety Expert might be the card that actually makes Chemical Spill work. Dream curve is playing Boom Wrench on 4 and Chemical Spill on 5 to load up your opponent's deck with bombs. Later in the game, you can activate the Deathrattle even more or bring it out via Inventor Boom. This is strong inevitability. Safety Expert or Zilliax can also be cheated out earlier using Part Scrapper in combination with either Safety Googles or Armor Vendor. Squash asks if Testing Dummy would fit in this archetype, and ZachO points out that because Chemical Spill pulls out the highest cost minion, it's unlikely to hit Testing Dummy most of the time. Town Crier and Instrument Tech can also tutor out Boomwrench and Safety Expert to make them more consistent. ZachO thinks it might be better focusing on survivability with your bombs being the late game inevitability. Squash mentions Quality Assurance also tutors out Testing Dummy, so whatever direction the deck goes it'll have consistency. Standardized Pack is unplayable. Bomb Warrior seems like the most likely new archetype to emerge from the miniset.
Neutrals - Explodineer feels like a card that was meant for Warrior, but they ran out of class space so they put it in as a neutral (which isn't a bad thing). Pro Gamer is a funny card, but it's terrible. Losing the RPS is so bad because the opponent can immediately play their cards. Building-Block Golem is a card that looks good for decks that go wide (maybe Aggro Paladin), but the stat line is a bit clunky. ZachO doesn't like the card against slower decks that tend to not play a lot of minions, because the body could be stranded. Potentially a good card, but may not have a place in a current deck. Does provide a big discount to Ticking Pylon Zilliax though. ZachO is not a fan of The Replicator-inator. It's a creative card, but its use may be limited. Squash mentions you can copy the Paladin Titan with the mini, but Paladin may not want to play a 5 mana 5/5. Seems pointless to play the 8 mana version. The mini has some applications, but the initial 5/5 body seems very slow and weak. Squash doesn't think the card is hopeless, but it needs a very specific target for it to be worth running. ZachO and Squash think Puppetmaster Dorian is the more compelling Legendary. Could be powerful with cheap draw (Mass Production or Gear Shift). There's more potential for the card since it is a powerful effect on paper, especially with tutor effects. This combo does have a cute combo in Wild with Psyche Melon since it can draw all of the Aviana/Kun pieces and play them the same turn. ZachO says he does like the card in Druid because the class has ramp and tutors. This is a thought provoking card because it's an interesting puzzle piece to figure out where it belongs.
Other miscellaneous talking points -

• ZachO and Squash think this miniset feels more like a prelude to the next expansion than an addendum to Whizbang's set, because so many of the cards have synergies that have come out of nowhere. A lot of these cards don't "speak" to the previous expansion cards (ex - Druid getting a Treant card, DH getting a Deathrattle focused card, Paladin getting Holy spell synergy cards, everything Priest got). They think this is a relatively low powered miniset, but there are things they want to play around with. ZachO thinks this miniset was more cautious because of the last 2 minisets breaking the game at various points, which he's not a big fan of. He'd rather see more brave design that gets nerfed in the next patch if it does end up breaking the game. Assuming Reno Warrior gets nuked out of playability, the possibility of Mech Warrior being playable is welcomed, and we may also see a rise in Reno Hunter interest. ZachO and Squash are really not fans of the direction of Priest getting overly reactive cards, because these cards will either be flat out bad or unbearable to play against. Assuming Brann is nuked, hopefully new late game strategies open up and the best thing to do in the late game isn't Excavate Rogue.

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About half of the student body was blinded by the sudden and intense flash of light that blanketed the room.
The other half seemed to have reacted in time to shield themselves from that unexpected assault on the senses.
I was part of that latter half.
And what I saw during those precious few seconds of visual overstimulation was nothing short of remarkable.
The walls that had resembled Mal’tory’s dark and dreary office quaked and quivered in place, as if the whole room was a living organism, and we were somehow nestled within its guts.
Each of the ornate wooden panels began dislodging from one another, their formerly flush surfaces cracking, revealing seams where there had been none before. These seams too began expanding, as each of the panels started wobbling, wiggling, then eventually disconnecting from one another entirely; moving independently of one another as if freeing themselves from a long-dormant state.
For a moment, they looked almost like a reptile’s scales when put under magnification.
Then, and without any warning, they began disappearing, each panel violently pulled back and into some dark anomalous void that existed behind the walls themselves; sending the EVI into another fit of spatial error reports.
We were, for a split second, completely wall-less. But not a second after the old walls had been… for lack of a better term — banished to the literal shadow realm, did a set of new walls suddenly take their place.
And quite dramatically too.
As an entirely new wallface suddenly emerged darkness of the void, one that was earthy in tones, and reminded me more of those old teakwood heritage buildings back on Earth. There were fewer embellishments to them compared to the previous Victorian-styled walls, less patterns and ostentatious designs, instead simply going with this less is more approach that left vast empty gaps where decorations and patterns were previously present. It was almost as if they were left empty and bare for a reason.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 475% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
Out of nowhere, dozens of pots, planters, and trellises suddenly embedded themselves through the wall, decorating what was no longer a blank canvas.
Plantlife soon followed this open invitation for a free home, as hundreds of flowers bloomed all across the wall, carefully trimmed and perfectly appointed to the lattice structures they coiled on, with not a single one of them looking too wild or out of place.
The sudden and abrupt remodeling completely threw me off.
At least, until the source of it all suddenly made themselves known.
“Welcome, first years, to Mana-field perception and Light Magic theory.” The voice continued, as through the literal haze of change came a female figure that the EVI had little problem assigning a name and identifier to.
ENTITY IFF CONFIRMED: A109 Apprentice Larial Essen - NEXUS [CORDIAL]
Yet strangely, the metallic footsteps that I’d heard just before she crossed the staff door’s threshold didn’t seem to follow her. Instead, only the apprentice emerged from the door behind the lectern.
She continued towards the lectern with a forced and somewhat stiff poise and gait, her general demeanor identical to how she carried herself prior to the whole crate saga. Which was of course, stern, tired, and completely unyielding; a fact supported by the impeccable posture she used to walk into class.
Though the class’ focus certainly wasn’t on her demeanor, or her posture, nor even on the room that had completely morphed into a completely different space.
No.
It was instead almost squarely focused on the apprentice’s cloak, which was most certainly not black.
This prompted the entire room to erupt into a frenzy of whispers, tempered only by those daring enough to deploy privacy screens.
But before those antics could evolve any further, and before my mind could even catch up with this turn of events, a loud, high-pitched, and unbroken — SHUSH — erupted from the front of the class. Emerging from a certain gorn-like lizard, who’d stood up to face us rather than the apprentice currently manning her podium. “ALL STUDENTS RISE!” He commanded.
To which the entire class followed, with the only two tentative parties being myself and a certain bull.
“ALL STUDENTS FORWARD AND BOW!” He continued, prompting the whole class to follow suit, and from there, receiving a head-tilt’s worth of praise from the apprentice.
“Thank you, Lord Qiv.” The apprentice spoke appreciatively, before setting her sights on the rest of the desks and chairs—
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 200% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—which were subsequently transformed into brighter-toned variants of their formerly dark and depressive selves. “I understand that there may be quite a few lingering questions amongst the crowd that quite a few of you wish to be addressed. In the spirit of ensuring that these needless thoughts and senseless rumors do not come to cloud your mind throughout the rest of class, thereby rendering these lessons moot, I wish for them to be addressed here and now.” Larial announced tacitly, but with a severity that was clearly modeled off of her mentor.
The mood of the room quickly changed following that.
But instead of shifting to the deference and submission in Articord’s class, or the tentative acceptance of Vanavan’s class, there was instead an overarching tone of outright confusion.
It was as if the whole class didn’t know how best to handle the situation.
But whilst the rest of the room remained undecided, with a few shaky hands rising up one by one, a sense of relief quickly washed over me as my emotions finally managed to catch up to the rapidly developing turn of events.
I couldn’t help but to immediately activate the in-armor positional readjustment mode in the suit, allowing myself to just… slouch; as I took in the class with a renewed wave of reprieve.
It was that same feeling you get when you arrive on the day of the test, only to find it delayed by a week. Or that feeling you get when a notification arrives in the dead of night, on the eve of a presentation, to inexplicably announce that the whole project was now put on hold due to some unforeseen event.
But unlike those situations where the why of the situation didn’t really matter… here, it most certainly did.
Which prompted me to listen in, as the questions began flying towards the apprentice.
“If I may be the one so brazen as to offer myself as the voice of the year group, Apprentice Essen?” A certain Auris Ping took the lead, having been chosen by the apprentice amidst a sea of equally inquisitive hands.
“The floor is yours, Lord Ping.” The apprentice proclaimed.
“Thank you, Apprentice.” The bull responded curtly, eliciting a particularly intense glare from the likes of Thalmin. “Where is Professor Mal’tory?”
The apprentice’s features shifted somewhat at that question, as if she wasn’t expecting something that blunt and straightforward right out of the gate. “The professor’s whereabouts are the business of the Academy’s faculty and staff.” She spoke firmly, yet with an authority that she was clearly under equipped to wield. “If you wish to inquire as to the nature of this class going forward, I will be more than happy to-”
A series of hands were raised even before the apprentice had even finished her sentence. Which prompted the overworked and exhausted elf to switch over to another student before she even had time to finish her own thoughts. “The floor is yours, Lady Ladona.”
“Thank you, Apprentice. Now, to clarify, are we to expect you to be teaching us for the rest of this class?” The being, which I could only describe as a butterfly with most of their insectoid-traits toned down, asked politely.
“That is correct, Lady Ladona.”
“And is this expected to continue for… the rest of the month?” Ladona continued, her features shifting if only to show her growing sense of confidence.“The semester perhaps? Or maybe even the rest of the school year?” She continued at a rapid-fire pace, making a point to catch the apprentice off-guard before she could even respond to that first point.
“The responsibility of tutelage has been deferred to me on the basis of Professor Mal’tory’s current inability to fulfill this particular aspect of his responsibilities owing to his current engagements. This will remain so, until the Professor returns from said engagements.” The apprentice responded in that same jaded, no-nonsense tone of voice she’d used during our pre-life debt interactions.
It was, however, woefully inadequate in dealing with the likes of a vicious social predator like Ladona, who immediately waded through the tepid waters towards the first sign of weakness. “So when can we expect his return, Apprentice?” She pushed further, her polite tone of voice acting like a velvet cloth, barely concealing the sharp mandibles beneath it.
“That is something I cannot answer.” The apprentice replied sternly, taking a stand against the shark that had now tasted blood in the water.
“Is this because of a lack of correspondence to the faculty?” The butterfly-person shot back quickly with an innocent cock of her head, her antennae swaying as she did so.
“I am not at a privilege to divulge such details, and that is most certainly not the case, Lady Ladona.”
“My apologies, Apprentice.” Ladona spoke in a calculated show of apologetics. “In any case, am I to assume then that in addition to the responsibility of tutelage, that the responsibilities of proctorship, examination, and evaluation, have likewise been deferred to you?” She shifted gears once more, this time, her question garnered quite a few murmurs to emerge from the rest of the class.
Murmurs which, as the EVI’s little picture-in-picture subtitles hinted at, were all in support of Auris Ping’s right-hand.
“That’s right… are we to assume that an apprentice of all people will be responsible for the evaluation of our performance?”
“I mean, she is an elf, that should count for something right-”
“Have some dignity! Just because she’s an elf, doesn’t mean she has any right to be dictating the fate of our academic progress!”
“That’s right! This is an insult to our titles! How dare they relegate the tutelage of a class to a mere pitiable apprentice! What do they take us for, the dregs of society?”
These hot-takes continued escalating further and further, until finally, and seemingly out of nowhere, several of those voices began dying down seemingly mid-sentence; something had distracted them from their little outbursts.
In fact, as the seconds ticked by, Thacea, Thalmin, and Ilunor turned towards each other knowingly, as if sensing that something was amiss.
That something was soon made clear to me by a sudden uptick of mana that rose from two, to three, to four hundred percent above background radiation.
At which point, several warnings suddenly slammed my HUD.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 400% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
CAUTION: Concentrated Heat-Energy Surge Detected!
CAUTION: Localized Temperature Surge Detected!
Those caution reticles quickly formed just behind the apprentice, hovering ominously over that void-filled doorway, right before a stream of concentrated flames surged forwards towards her.
However, instead of dodging, ducking, or leaping out of the way, she stood firm; her features not even shifting even a little.
As right before the flames made contact, so too did they suddenly stop, as that surge of mana radiation fluctuated wildly—
ALERT: VARIABLE FREQUENCY FLUCTUATION OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED 200 - 400% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—before suddenly disappearing.
The room was left stunned.
Any remaining conversations were halted mid way, with many of the more chatty students barely even registering what’d just happened.
So for those who lacked situational awareness, and were still very much looking around for the reason why the rest of the class had gone silent, there was a round two to these attacks that erupted as suddenly as the first.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 650% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
This was signaled at first by the cracking of rock and the quaking of the entire room, followed closely by four distinct sinkholes forming along the floor at the very front of the lecture hall. A gurgling, churning noise echoed ominously from deep within the newly-formed holes, like an ancient concrete mixer dialed up to eleven.
Eventually, it stopped.
And soon after, four humanoid earthen behemoths erupted from those sinkholes. Each of them easily towered over the apprentice, whilst each of their fists were at least a full Ilunor in size.
A tense confrontation followed, and a silence that could be shattered by a pin drop soon descended upon the formerly whisper-filled room.
Yet despite it all, the apprentice didn’t move a single muscle, and to top it all off her eyes were closed shut as if in deep thought.
Seconds passed.
Then finally, the four cobblestone golems made their move.
All four moved in sync, their first steps caused the whole hall to shudder, prompting me to instinctively flinch towards my sidearm as the events of the second day hit me harder than a sack of bricks.
The first golem was poised to strike her side—
ALERT: VARIABLE FREQUENCY FLUCTUATION OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED 300 - 650% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—but found itself crumbling before our eyes, as local mana radiation spiked and shifted erratically.
The second golem reached down with its fist, poised to grab the apprentice through the lectern—
ALERT: VARIABLE FREQUENCY FLUCTUATION OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED 250 - 700% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—but like the first, it found itself reduced to rubble, falling where it stood; as rock by rock, it collapsed under its own weight.
The third and fourth golems charged forward together, lunging down fast towards the lectern—
ALERT: VARIABLE FREQUENCY FLUCTUATION OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED 350 - 725% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—but like the first and second, they too found themselves victims to the great equalizer that was gravity, as whatever magical glue was holding them together just up and failed, reducing those humanoid forms into harmless piles of rock.
A few stray rocks did reach the lectern, but were effortlessly swatted away by an invisible barrier, leaving the apprentice and her immediate surroundings completely unharmed.
Silence once more descended on the entire class.
But just like the silence from before, that lull period wasn’t destined to last, as a loud, boisterous, and jolly series of bellowing laughs emerged from behind the void of that door.
I could tell, with immediate certainty, who that voice belonged to.
I didn’t even need the EVI’s tag system for this one.
ENTITY IFF CONFIRMED: A110 Professor Sorecar Latil Almont Pliska - NEXUS [CORDIAL]
“Spectacular work, young apprentice! Spectacular work indeed!” The man came marching through the door, walking up and towards the apprentice.
“Thank you, Professor-Armorer Pliska.” The apprentice responded softly, prompting the armorer to reply with a sharp and brisk bow of his own.
“You can reserve your thanks for after class, I have plenty more exercises where that came from, and each and every one is going to be tougher than the last!” The man proclaimed not-so-discreetly, eliciting a worried expression to form on the apprentice’s face, highlighting the seriousness of the otherwise lackadaisical tone of his voice. “Needless to say, I don’t think you’ll be thanking me much after I’m done with you! The Academy’s gotten a bit softer over the years, and I’m about to make up for lost time before they toss old-Sorecar Latil Almont Pliska back into the workshop!” He paused, before shifting his tone towards a more menacing one. “And that applies to your understudies as well, Apprentice.”
“Now!” The armorer quickly shifted his attention from the apprentice, and towards class, his gesticulations wild, as if making for the apprentice’s slower, more sluggish demeanor. More specifically, he maintained this sort of “Y” posture, with both arms high above his head as he spoke. “For those of you wondering exactly what just happened… well, perhaps it would be best for you to leave the class considering this is exactly the sort of thing we’ll both be expecting of you following the conclusion of this school year! And for those of you who openly doubt the qualifications of our dear apprentice here… just know that she was hand-picked by Professor Mal’tory himself for a reason.” The man paused, before bringing his arms back down to his sides, if only to emphasize his point, before resuming the posture from before. “And until I see a single one of you being personally selected by a black, red, blue, or white-robed professor… I don’t want to hear a single peep of doubt from you lot. At least as it pertains to the apprentice’s ability to teach these classes! And if you need an extra guarantee of such? Well… know that the Academy does not allow an apprentice to teach without supervision from an appointed Professor of the Magical Arts.” He paused, as if for dramatic effect, before pointing both hands down towards himself. “Which just so happens to be the only Professor otherwise free from the burdens of stringent schedules — yours truly!”
To Sorecar’s credit, the murmurs born of inflated egos, and the whispers of dissidence did not once dare to interrupt, or follow-up on the man’s proclamations.
If anything, that entire… display was enough to keep the critics at bay, and the ones on the fence to fully hop back on the side of respect.
At least, until one group decided to tempt fate, deploying a privacy screen.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 350% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
If only for that privacy screen to suffer the same effects as the rest of the spells casted throughout class thus far.
ALERT: VARIABLE FREQUENCY FLUCTUATION OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED 100 - 350% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
“Bold! Brash! And indeed, cheeky, if that word still holds true in this era’s vernacular!” Sorecar announced with a laugh that radiated deep from within his armor. “Unlike other classes that prohibit the casting of magic save for practice or demonstrative purposes, I fully allow it, nay, I say, I encourage it! You youths should be free to cast magic whenever and however you like!” The man paused soon after, and once again shifted gears towards a more severe timbre, yet never once losing that lackadaisical personality I knew him for. “But just remember, while you may freely practice these magical gifts you have and hold so highly, doing such in this class is to be considered a direct challenge by yours truly! This is the study of Light Magic and Mana-field Perception, after all! And thus, in the spirit of scholarly competition, I shall take every spell cast as a chance to prove what’s what!”
The man paused, before gesturing towards the apprentice. “Now, for those of you still quite confused with the definition of Light Magic as it pertains to the Nexian vernacular, I shall defer the right of tutelage back to that of our dear Apprentice. The floor is yours, my lady.”
A brief exchange of bows between the teaching duo was had, before the apprentice finally started, now with all doubts and concerns fully addressed not just by words alone, but through action as well.
“As all of you may have already discerned, the demonstration Professor Pliska had so graciously provided, was an attempt to illustrate the most visible effects of Light Magic — that being the detection and subsequent dispelling of active and pre-active spells. The subject of Light magic, thus refers to the study of the detection, dispelling, counterspelling, and disarming of all forms of other magics.”
“And by that definition, it is the single most combative field of magic there is.” Sorecar promptly chimed in with a nod towards the apprentice, almost like he was tag-teaming this opening statement with her; establishing a precedent for the dynamics of the class. “For in order to practice Light Magic, one must be in the presence of an active spell. And in order to truly practice Light Magic, one must be in the presence of active danger, as unlike most forms of magic, unevenness and intensity in casting is key to the successful destabilization of an offending spell.”
“So THAT’S what the fluctuations were.” I thought to myself outloud inside my helmet.
“Moreover—” Sorecar continued, raising his arms into the air once again as if to emphasize his points. “—to the seasoned and the wise, Light Magic as a field is known to be the single most versatile field in existence. For if implemented correctly, it has the capacity to bring all other forms of magic to its knees.”
“Versatility and adaptability are core elements of Light Magic, so while not capable of much harm by itself, it is capable of incredible feats of defense if used correctly.”
To say that I was pleasantly surprised would’ve been an understatement by this point. Because not only was Mal’tory completely out for the count, and not only was he replaced by two of my only cordial relations within the Academy thus far, but the class itself was refreshingly straightforward. There was no mincing around words like Vanavan’s class of lectures, there was also no overt signs of blatant propaganda and indoctrination like in Articord’s class. Instead, this whole class started out with a practical demo of all things, followed up essentially with a breakdown of exactly what we were studying.
“What you observed during the start of class, were just two out of a near-infinite set of examples demonstrating counterspell and dispelling measures, a rather dramatic one I might add but one that you may very well one day use.” The apprentice continued following yet another exchange of nods with Sorecar.
“And indeed, while they may have seemed trivial to the keen-eyed observer, the execution of their dispelling is anything but. Because despite what most misinformed minds may believe regarding counterspelling — dispelling isn’t simply a matter of overpowering an offending spell with a burst of mana, but instead, more akin to the unwinding of a knot, or the picking of a lock. You must act to untangle a spell, until the spell itself falls apart at the seams.” Sorecar continued, before once again swapping the baton with Larial through an exchange of nods.
“Which is exactly why Light Magic continues to be a field forever expanding in its domain.” The apprentice continued. “Because as every other field develops more and more convoluted forms of spells and artificing, so too does Light Magic have to adapt, improvise, and overcome these advanced and oftentimes eclectic means of casting.”
So an arms race… I thought to myself.
“It is, in essence, a pure magic field. Yet it is applied as if it were an applied magical field of study.” Sorecar surmised, prompting me to actually listen in with genuine intent, this marking the first moment I was truly engaged with a class with none of its politics.
“And as for the Mana-Field Perception class?” The apprentice continued with an inquisitive tone of voice. “It’s effectively an extension, or rather, a foundational element of Light Magic depending on how one wishes to view it. Because in order to become proficient in Light Magic, you have to first understand and hone your abilities in order to detect the nuances within mana-streams and mana-fields. It is only through the detection of disruptions and the accurate understanding of a spell being cast, that you are able to apply more advanced abjurations in an attempt to counter these spells. Sometimes even before they’re cast if you’re so inclined to.”
“Now, how many of you can genuinely say you noticed the shift in the room’s aura prior to the casting of that Firestream?” Sorecar asked the crowd, prompting almost every hand to be raised.
“Well that’s just a blatant lie now, isn’t it?” The man retorted bluntly. “I can tell by your reactions just before the Flamespear hit, you know. So please, honestly now, I’m giving you one more chance to answer.”
About three quarters of the class lowered their hands, leaving only the gang, Auris Ping and Qiv’s group, as well as a few other scattered students to maintain their raised hands.
“Alright, that’s about exactly the number I counted from behind the veil! Rightio then!” Sorecar proclaimed through what I could only imagine would’ve been a grin if it wasn’t for his armor. “This is exactly why mana-field perception is necessary. Because to most mages, it is a learned skill rather than an inherent trait. Which, of course, is by no means a demerit! But moreso, a wonderful little oddity in the grander tapestry that is the magical arts and pedagogue!”
The apprentice quickly followed that up with a series of talks once more summarizing the expectations of the class. Mana-field perception was, unsurprisingly, divided into practical and theoretical assessments. Which, at first, seemed to be a potential roadblock, until I realized one fundamental way this class could actually benefit my aims.
“EVI?” I spoke inwardly, as Larial started her lectures on mana-field perception.
“Yes, Cadet Booker?”
“Is there any chance you can maybe interpolate and extrapolate on the Apprentice’s points? As in, is it possible to… visualize magic, as opposed to just alerting me to bursts of it?”
“The mana-radiation visualization project, or MRVP, has been in development for some time, Cadet Booker. The research and development teams however, were unable to create a reliable model for field-use that wouldn’t have been a liability to operations.”
“So it wasn’t field-deployable because of the variance and accuracy issue.”
“Correct, Cadet Booker.”
“Alright, and you said all they needed was more data to create a better model for it, right?”
“Correct, Cadet Booker.”
“Could you… do that with this? Is that within your mission parameters to do so?”
“It is indeed one of the many ongoing projects taking up the bulk of my processing capacity, Cadet Booker. However, proper implementation of this will require additional hardware to be developed, tested, and then field-deployed for testing. The success rate of which is yet to be determined. I cannot guarantee this operation will yield the desired results inferred, Cadet Booker.”
“Alright, that’s good enough for me.” I acknowledged, before turning back to class with a renewed sense of invigoration.
The lecture continued, only stopping about midway as the apprentice realized she’d yet to elaborate on the whole Light Magic class side of things.
Which, it turns out, was more or less similar to Mana-field perception in its assessment criteria — that being a mix of practical and theory assessments. A combination of written exams and practical counterspelling would be expected in tests, midterms, and finals. This would mark my first true hurdle… but then again, perhaps I could balance out the rest of my grades against the practicals which was more or less an impossibility given my obvious human limitations…
“As with most of the classes in the first year, I will treat both periods as one. As both subjects are intertwined, we may see glimpses of both within the same period.” The apprentice continued, before shifting gears towards something else. “And on the topic of periods, since we’re nearing the conclusion of the first, with lunch quickly coming upon us, I believe it to be necessary to inform everyone now of what awaits at the end of this second period.” The apprentice spoke ominously, as she made the effort of meeting every one of the students’ gazes. “By day’s end, I intend for a pair of you to perform a practical demonstration of the fundamentals of light magic. So I expect everyone to pay close attention after lunch.”
A small pause punctuated the room yet again, before Sorecar, after several hours of silence, came to complete the apprentice’s thoughts; his faceplate squeaked to form a shape that just barely gave off the feeling of a smirk.
“Be prepared, and be ready, for your first real brush with magical dueling.”
“First being the operative word here, I must add.” The apprentice quickly clarified. “Within the bounds of demonstrative purposes.”
I could just about hear the band rounding out the corner outside the hall, and I could just about see a few students ready to pack up their things for lunch.
However, before the band could arrive, Thalmin unexpectedly stood up, raising his hand in the process.
“Yes, Prince Thalmin Havenbrock?” The apprentice acknowledged.
“I wish to volunteer as the issuer of this duel, and to designate the other party for this duel as well.”
The apprentice paused, considering this carefully, before nodding. “Granted, though I warn you Prince Havenbrock, this is an introductory demonstration, and will be treated as such. In any case, who would you wish to designate as the other party?”
“Lord Auris Ping.”
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(Author’s Note: And there we have it! Light Magic Theory and Manafield Perception classes are both now in session! This is probably the most fun and engaging class I've written yet, and this is a sentiment that Emma shares as well! I do hope you guys share the sentiment haha as I still think that action is something I still am quite lacking in, in terms of my abilities to properly write and convey it. I hope you guys enjoy! :D The next Two Chapters are already up on Patreon if you guys are interested in getting early access to future chapters!)
[If you guys want to help support me and these stories, here's my ko-fi ! And my Patreon for early chapter releases (Chapter 80 and Chapter 81 of this story is already out on there!)]

To cultivate a meaningful practice with Oracle Card Spreads, start by choosing a deck that resonates with you. Establish a sacred space for your readings and set clear intentions. Regularly cleanse and charge your cards. Develop a connection with each card's symbolism through meditation and reflection. Practice various spreads to enhance your interpretive skills. Trust your intuition and incorporate journaling to track your insights.
Consistency and openness are key to deepening your understanding of Oracle Cards. Oracle cards are a divination tool similar to Tarot cards, consisting of a deck with unique images and symbols. Unlike Tarot, Oracle cards don't adhere to a standardized structure, allowing for greater creativity in design. These cards are used for intuitive guidance, self-reflection, and spiritual insights. Each card carries a specific meaning or message, and users often draw cards randomly or lay out spreads to gain insights into various aspects of their lives or seek answers to specific questions.
Oracle cards are embraced by individuals seeking personal growth, inspiration, and a connection to their intuition.
Oracle cards are diverse, covering themes like angels, animals, mythology, or affirmations. Users interpret the cards based on intuition, imagery, and personal associations rather than a fixed set of meanings.
The practice involves shuffling the deck, posing a question, and drawing cards to receive guidance. Some use Oracle cards for daily inspiration, while others turn to them during pivotal life moments.
The open-ended nature of Oracle cards encourages users to explore their spirituality, fostering a unique and personal connection with the deck.
Regular use enhances one's intuitive abilities and deepens the bond with the cards.To deepen your Oracle card practice, consider exploring different spreads that cater to specific inquiries or areas of your life.
Develop a ritual around your readings, such as grounding exercises or meditation, to enhance focus and receptivity. Engage with the imagery on the cards through visualization and contemplation, allowing your subconscious to contribute to the interpretation.
Maintain a journal to record your readings, insights, and feelings, fostering a reflective process that helps track patterns and personal growth over time. Remember, the essence of Oracle cards lies in personal connection and intuition, making each reading a unique and enriching experience.
Experiment with combining Oracle card readings with other spiritual practices like meditation, crystal work, or rituals to create a holistic experience.
Join communities or online forums to share experiences and insights with fellow practitioners, gaining new perspectives on card interpretations. Periodically cleanse and recharge your cards to maintain their energy.
Embrace the evolving nature of your practice, allowing it to adapt as you grow spiritually. As you become more attuned to your intuition, you may find that Oracle cards become a powerful tool for self-discovery, guidance, and empowerment.
Consider integrating Oracle card readings into a mindful routine, incorporating them into moments of introspection, gratitude, or goal-setting. Explore different spreads or design your own to tailor readings to specific aspects of your life. Share your insights with others or use Oracle cards in group settings for collective guidance.
As you progress, don't hesitate to explore advanced techniques, such as combining multiple decks or creating your own cards to personalize the experience further. Ultimately, the key lies in cultivating a practice that resonates with you, fostering a deeper connection with the spiritual insights Oracle cards can offer.
To further enrich your Oracle card practice, delve into the symbolism and history behind the specific deck you're using. Understanding the cultural or spiritual context can deepen your appreciation and interpretation of the cards. Explore different spreads for specific purposes, such as love, career, or personal growth.
Additionally, regularly revisit and reassess your personal connection to the cards, allowing your evolving perspectives to influence the readings. Continuously expand your knowledge by exploring diverse decks and attending workshops or classes on Oracle card reading. This ongoing exploration ensures a dynamic and evolving practice tailored to your unique spiritual journey.
Grounding exercises help anchor you in the present moment and connect with the physical world. Here are a few simple grounding techniques:

1. Deep Breathing: Take slow, deep breaths. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. Focus on the sensation of your breath to bring your attention to the present.
   
2. Body Scan: Sit or lie down comfortably. Pay attention to each part of your body, starting from your toes and moving up. Notice any tension and consciously release it, bringing awareness to each body part.
   
3. Mindful Walking: Take a slow walk and pay attention to each step. Feel the ground beneath your feet, notice the movement of your body, and observe your surroundings. This helps shift your focus from thoughts to the physical experience.
   
4. Grounding Objects: Hold onto an object with texture or weight, like a stone or a piece of fabric. Pay attention to its features, temperature, and the way it feels in your hand, bringing your awareness to the present moment.
   
5. Visualization: Imagine roots extending from your body into the ground, like a tree. Envision these roots grounding you and providing stability. Connect with the Earth's energy as you visualize this grounding process.
   
6. Five Senses Check: Engage your senses by identifying five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This exercise brings you into the immediate sensory experience.
   
7. Affirmations: Repeat positive affirmations or mantras to center your thoughts. Affirmations can help redirect your focus and bring a sense of calmness.
   

Experiment with these grounding exercises to find what resonates best with you, and use them whenever you need to center yourself or alleviate stress.
To incorporate crystals and rituals into your Oracle card practice, consider the following steps:

1. Crystal Selection: Choose crystals that resonate with your intentions or the specific energy you want to enhance during your Oracle card readings. For example, amethyst for intuition, rose quartz for love, or clear quartz for clarity.
   
2. Cleansing Crystals: Before each reading, cleanse your chosen crystals to remove any previous energies. You can use methods like smudging with sage, placing them in moonlight or sunlight, or using other crystal-clearing techniques.
   
3. Crystal Placement: Position your crystals around your Oracle card deck or spread. You can place them in a pattern or intuitively position them based on the energy you want to enhance. Trust your instincts and the energies of the crystals.
   
4. Setting Intentions: Before beginning your Oracle card reading, set clear intentions for the session. State your purpose and what guidance or insights you seek. This helps align the energy of the crystals and cards with your intentions.
   
5. Ritual Elements: Create a ritual around your Oracle card practice. This might include lighting candles, playing soft music, or incorporating specific colors or symbols that hold personal meaning. Consistency in your ritual can create a conducive environment for your practice.
   
6. Meditation with Crystals: Meditate with your chosen crystals before starting the Oracle card reading. This helps attune your energy to the vibrations of the crystals and enhances your intuitive connection.
   
7. Crystal Grids: Experiment with creating crystal grids around your Oracle card space. This involves arranging crystals in a specific pattern to amplify energy and intention. Grids can be simple or complex, depending on your preference.
   
8. Closing Ritual: Conclude your Oracle card session with a closing ritual. Express gratitude for the insights received, release any energy that no longer serves you, and cleanse both the cards and crystals. This helps maintain a clear and positive energy space.
   
9. Crystal Charging: Periodically recharge your crystals to maintain their energy. You can do this by placing them in the sunlight, moonlight, or on a selenite charging plate. This ensures that the crystals remain potent and ready for your Oracle card sessions.
   
10. Incorporate Elemental Energies: Align your practice with the elements. For example, use earthy crystals for grounding (e.g., hematite), airy crystals for mental clarity (e.g., clear quartz), watery crystals for emotional insight (e.g., moonstone), and fiery crystals for passion (e.g., carnelian). This adds a elemental dimension to your readings.
    
11. Create Ritual Symbols: Develop symbols or gestures that act as anchors for specific energies during your Oracle card readings. For instance, drawing a particular symbol in the air or using hand gestures can amplify your intention and focus.
    
12. Moon Phases and Oracle Readings: Leverage the energy of different moon phases for your Oracle card readings. Perform readings during the new moon for new beginnings, the full moon for clarity and manifestation, or the waning moon for releasing and letting go.
    
13. Crystal Elixirs: Create crystal elixirs by placing crystals in water under moonlight or sunlight (ensuring the crystals are safe for water). Use the elixir to anoint your cards or drink before a reading, infusing the energy of the crystals into your practice.
    
14. Dedicated Sacred Space: Designate a specific area for your Oracle card practice and crystal work. This sacred space can be adorned with meaningful items, creating an energetic container that enhances your connection with the divine and your intuitive abilities.
    
15. Intuitive Crystal Pairing: Trust your intuition when combining crystals with Oracle cards. Allow yourself to be drawn to certain crystals based on the energy you sense or the guidance you seek. Intuitive pairings can deepen the resonance of your readings.
    

Continuously explore and adapt these practices to align with your evolving spiritual journey. The synergy of crystals, rituals, and Oracle cards can create a powerful and personalized experience, enriching your connection with your inner wisdom and the energies around you.

As discussed in the first post, this is my ongoing compilation of the remaining questions Christopher has answered online between August 1st 2023 and April 30th 2024 which I've not already covered in other compilations.
As always, questions are sorted by topic, and each Q&A is annotated with a bracketed source number. Links to every source used and to the other parts of this compilation will be provided in a comment below.
The previous post focused on In-Universe Lore. We will now switch to out-of-universe questions, starting with Murtagh. This installment will cover the essence of Murtagh, both the book and the character. The next post will cover additional Murtagh-related questions.

Murtagh the Book

Idea for the book

What was your biggest inspiration to return to this universe and write Murtagh? Was it always in the works? Yeah, so, boy, it's a little convoluted. Ultimately, you can blame the existence of Murtagh on a couple of things. So, starting in 2017 or so, I was feeling a little frustrated in my life for various reasons. And so I decided that I was going to say yes to every appearance opportunity that came my way, just as a way of getting myself out of the house, living life, traveling, seeing stuff, meeting people, etc. So I said yes to going to a bunch of conventions and then sort of out of nowhere, Barnes and Noble asked if I would be their Author in Residence for 2019. They asked in 2018. And so I said yes. And what that meant was I was going to be traveling to a different B&N bookstore every month for the entire year of 2019. Now shortly after I said yes, my mom actually came to me and she said, "Christopher, you're going to be doing that, that's going to be a lot of work. Sure would be nice if you had something new published for 2019." And at this time, I was deep into revisions on To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, which was a massive, massive book. But I thought that hey, that's a great idea. So I took like a month or two and I wrote and revised what became The Fork, The Witch, and The Worm: Tales from Alagaësia, short stories set in the World of Eragon. The first story in there, The Fork story, was based off a tweet that a fan sent me. And again, I think it was 2016 or 2017. And they said, "Hey, Christopher, can you tell us anything about what Murtagh and Thorn are doing after the end of the Inheritance Cycle?" And it was way too late for me past my bedtime. And I said something like, "Murtagh just enchanted a fork to be more deadly than any sword and won a fight with it, and Thorn isn't very happy with him." And I couldn't stop thinking about that, so that became the basis for the Fork story. And then once I wrote it, I couldn't stop thinking about sort of where that story would lead for Murtagh and the world of Alagaësia. I finished To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and I finished revising Fractal Noise. I actually delivered Fractal Noise to Tor all the way back end of 2021, or fairly in 2021. And then I was like, "Okay, it's time for dragons." And I was looking at writing the long awaited Book Five. Though the more I looked at it, because there's a time jump between Inheritance and Book Five, I realized that I was having to do too much explaining of all the things that had happened leading up to Book Five. It was just gonna be deadly dull. So then I went back to those thoughts I'd had of Murtagh and the Fork story and I was like, "well, wait a minute, what if I wrote a book about Murtagh? I've always wanted to. This might be a good reason and good time and a good opportunity." And so I took it. And that's ultimately how Murtagh came about. Books come about through many different ways. Also, on a very practical side of things, last year was the 20th anniversary of the release of Eragon. And so that was also an extra motivation. I was going to write Murtagh anyway, but it was like, okay, not just going to write it. Let's make sure that it's done in time so it could come out on the 20th anniversary, which of course it did. [34]
I was looking at Book Five and I was doing the groundwork for it. Then I realized because it's further down the timeline than Murtagh that I was having to do a huge amount of explaining and setting the groundwork for people to understand how we got to the point of where we were in that book. Then I thought well maybe it'd be a good idea to take a step back and tell one of these earlier stories so people understand what's going on. [28]
I was starting to do some plotting for the next book in the World of Eragon, and I realized that there was too much setup needed. There was too much explaining, too much exposition. So I thought, well, what if what if I took a step back and actually told the story that I'm trying to summarize. And I'd already dipped my toes in, and was already thinking along those lines of, "What are the implications of that short story? Does it lead to something larger?" And of course it does. [1]
How long did it take to write Murtagh? Three and a half months. And then another six months of editing. That's mainly because it takes a few weeks every time my editor looks at it, and then it comes back to me, and then it takes another few weeks. It takes time. But the reason I was able to write it so quickly was because I had a very clear outline, which I learned to create over time. If I don't have an outline, writing doesn't go so well. And if I do have it, it's easy and fast. I wrote that outline quickly, which took no more than two weeks. That's because I already had the beginning in my head – because that was the story of The Fork . And I already knew what the ending would be. So if you have that then you have 80%. And then you still have about 20% left to figure out the middle, and that was the hardest part. I refuse to write a book where I don't know the ending. [23]
How much of it was brand new ideas that came to you now, and how much did you pull from old notes, unused ideas, and pulling it all together? Well, it evolved. I've always had ideas for more full-size books set in the world of Eragon, and a book about Murtagh was one of those. I had a couple of general ideas that I wanted to play with, such as Murtagh and Thorn grappling with their past, grappling with other threats and developments in the world. But the specifics of that only really came about starting in, I want to say, 2018, and even a little bit earlier when I originally got the idea of the short story, The Fork in The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm, which was from Murtagh’s point of view– Well, it was about Murtagh, not his point of view. But that served as the inciting incident and the key for the actual events of this book, and then everything in it drew from old notes, and then, also, I had new stuff as well. [6]
You'll see a lot in Murtagh that I'm drawing from what I've already established and then building off the feel of it. [12]
You talked about how act three was something that came to you early on in the process, and you wanted to reach that point. How do you work with your writing process? Do you start with that scene that comes to you first and then work backward? How do you play around with that? Every book is different, but I refuse to write a book unless I have the beginning and the end clearly in mind. And in this case, I already had the beginning because it was retelling the short story, “The Fork,” from Murtagh’s point of view now. That was the inciting incident in some ways. Technically, the inciting incident actually occurred at the end of Inheritance, but for this book, this is the beginning. Then, I knew where I wanted to end, like, last scene, last chapter. I had that right from the very beginning because I knew that would be emotional and affecting and all of that. Then, it was a question of what type of story I was trying to tell and how that would relate to Murtagh’s personal issues. So, my original conception was like an Edgar Rice Burroughs-style adventure into the unknown, and then the more I did on it, I was like, “Well, there's more to it than just simple adventure. A lot more. So, how do I serve that?” So, I work up a pretty detailed outline before I write the first draft, write the first draft, and then I sit back and say, “Okay, how well did I do in accomplishing what I was trying to accomplish and what do I need to change or focus on?” [6]
Why did you choose to write a story about Murtagh? Do you ask your readers which characters resonate with them, or do you make your own plans? I certainly like to know who is popular with my readers. This is how I know that Murtagh has been a real favorite for years. But that doesn't affect what I write. The fact that Murtagh is a favorite did not lead to the book of the same name. That was mainly because Murtagh's journey wasn't complete after Inheritance. [23]
We see the growth of Murtagh and Thorn's relationship in this book. How did you prepare yourself to explore the relationship between them? Before I start a book, I essentially do what I consider my homework. I take a notebook and I start writing by hand and I have a conversation with myself about who the characters are and what their stories are and what their journey is going to be. And I did that with Murtagh and Thorn specifically because it was very important to me that their relationship felt different than Eragon and Saphira's relationship. And I didn't get it perfectly the first draft. I'd say I got about 80% there. And then worked on it some more once I had a better understanding of what their dynamic was, and then I could go back to the beginning and it's like, okay, this is how they interact. Let's really focus on that. And that was just the core. It is Murtagh's story in a lot of ways, but it's also Thorn's. And that just was very, very important. But thinking about their different experiences, of course, was the key to figuring out how they were interacting. [32]
I’m not sure that if asked, I would have ever guessed your next Inheritance Cycle book would be about Murtagh. What inspired you to dig into this particular character as an author? In many ways, the Inheritance Cycle is the story of three (somewhat) brothers. Eragon, his cousin Roran, and Eragon’s half-brother, Murtagh. They’re each equally important to the story. However, since the series is primarily from Eragon’s point-of-view, readers never really got to experience Murtagh’s journey, which I think is a shame. [15]
Murtagh is one of the main characters of the Inheritance Cycle. There's Eragon, there's Arya, there's Roran, there's Nasuada, and there's Murtagh. But we really don't see a whole lot of Murtagh after the first book. He's taken away, he's imprisoned and we only see him appearing essentially as a villain. And I felt that there was a real missed opportunity there, or there was an opportunity to rectify that and show what actually was going on during that time. [34]

Coming back

It's been so many years. What keeps you in the world of Eragon? I grew up with it. Yeah, but I grew up in Steinhagen. I'm okay with visiting every 10 years. Well, to be fair, it's been 12 years since the last big one came out. Oh, that's a good point. Yeah, that's a good point. But the main thing is I have stories that I want to tell and I'm passionate about those stories. And that's what drew me back to the world. I decided I had a story that I cared about and was passionate about and I wanted to devote the time and energy to make sure that readers got to experience it as well. [2]
Even though it's been many years since it ended, what was it like for you getting back into that headspace and going back to that world? The world itself was very familiar. I had no difficulty diving right back into it. The biggest difference is that this isn't from Eragon’s point of view, so writing from Murtagh’s point of view introduces some differences to the experience. Which was nice for me and I think it will hopefully be nice for readers, as well. But it's an interesting mixture of intense nostalgia, intense familiarity, and yet a sense of newness, as well. Like if you've ever returned home after a long trip, college or wherever, and everything is super familiar, but maybe seems just a little different. [6]
Do you feel ownership of these characters still? The Inheritance Cycle has been with people for so many years. Do you think they belong to the people now? No they're mine because I can do what I want with them. But they have their own existence in the minds of the readers. I have a personal relationship with the books I read and the characters in those books. I'll just pick a book at random, Dune for example. My emotions and interactions with that book are probably very different than someone else's and different from Frank Herbert's when he wrote it. I know people have very deep emotional connections and experiences with Eragon and Saphira and the other characters, and that's out of my control. It is a wonderful thing at the end of the day that someone loves something that you've created so much. Absolutely. That's the goal, that's the dream, that's what you hope as a creator. But it makes me feel a sense of responsibility writing a new story. I definitely felt this with Murtagh, of wanting to do justice to those feelings that people have toward those characters. [28]
Did you always plan to tell more stories within the world of Eragon? Of course. In fact, I deliberately left a couple of dangling threads in Brisingr and Inheritance specifically to form the basis for future books. I love this world, and I hope to write many more stories in it over the years. Murtagh is the first of these. [8]
Did you always know you were gonna go back? Yes, and in fact, I started laying the groundwork in my third book for future stories, specifically so that later on, it didn't feel like I was pulling stuff out of a hat to extend work in the world. [33]

Evolving Scope and Writing Style

One of the fun things has been watching your writing go from Eragon, which is very clean. And it's a quick book about these characters end up on this journey and there's a fight at the end, and there's a really cool dragon. It's very clear what you're trying to do. And I think it was incredibly successful, or we wouldn't be here today. And then by Brisingr, it's a mess. And everybody's everywhere. And the world is this huge, complicated, lovable place with all these people that you adore. But watching the way you've grown from that, and then to take the steps into this very mature handling of Alagaësia in this book, it feels like in the last month I've read a career of writing enhancement. And it's been really exceptional. I actually wish I could read the books without being so familiar with them, for that very reason. I kind of want to see how they change over time. And it's interesting you mentioned Brisingr versus this one and even Inheritance, which is I kind of wanted to dial it back with this one. It's much more of a character study. It's much more focused on Murtagh and Thorn. We spend a lot of time alone with them, actually, over the course of the book. And there isn't any one character that's with them through the whole story. Which I think is reflective of Eragon, again, in his first book. And it's still a large book. It's still a 700-page book. And yet, for all of that, it is much more focused. I actually think, now some readers may disagree with me on this, but personally I think a lot more happens in this book than Eragon, and it's not actually that much longer in terms of word count, but it still feels to me like a lot more happens in this book than Eragon. [11]
How has your writing style evolved? I'm a much better writer than I was when I started and I also have more of an understanding of the difficulties of life, which was helpful when writing a character like Murtagh who has encountered a lot of difficulties. Also, I'm much more methodical in how I approach a book. I do a lot of planning and that allows me to write the book quickly and efficiently. [20]
I really love the spruced up language throughout the book; Murtagh was brought up and educated in the capital, I think the book from his perspective having an excellent use of vocabulary is only fitting. That was the idea. Glad you liked it. [T]
A third of the way through Murtagh and I can’t stand th’ word short’n’ng in dialogue. Don't read Dolores Claiborne, then, lol. [R]

Murtagh the Character

Murtagh's Childhood

This series deals a lot with fathers and absent fathers and difficult fathers. And since you wrote the series, you've become a father yourself. And so looking back on that series, how has your fatherhood that you have now obtained changed the way that you look back on the way that you created the father figures of Alagaësia? That's a really interesting question. It didn't really change too much, but it did change one thing in particular. In Murtagh, without getting too spoilery, there's a moment that Murtagh is having a flashback recollection of his own father and his mother. I think you know the scene I'm talking about. And writing that I was really sort of drawing off of what I have seen with my children and how they behave and play and how they sort of view and interact with the adults around them. That helped me. But as far as like Murtagh's feelings toward his father or Eragon's feelings toward his father, those were already established. Those characters are already established. So I wouldn't say that being a father has necessarily changed at a huge amount. Because fortunately, I have a good relationship with my father. And so far, my kids have a good relationship with me, except when they're trying to stay up too late. So it's not reflecting what I have in my life. I'm just trying to follow the logic of who those characters are and what their relationships are. [11]
This time you also deep dive into Murtagh's relationship with his biological father Morzan, and his true father and mentor Tornac. Being a father yourself now has changed the way you feel about their stories? Strangely enough, no. The only thing that changed is there is a scene I don't want to spoil but I'm sure you will remember. Those who've read the book will know. It's a flashback scene. To a moment when Murtagh was very young himself. And there were some things I've seen in my children and the way they behave that sort of guided how I wrote that scene and how I imagined young Murtagh would have perceived what was happening. But in general, no, the father-son relationship, if anything probably draws more from my experience with my father and myself versus myself with my children. So would you say that Tornac has a little bit of your father? Ehhh... I don't know about that. But I did like writing that relationship. Yeah, Tornac and Murtagh's relationship is very beautiful. And sad as well! Well that is the theme of Murtagh's life. [17]
I think also there's probably something to be said for the fact that you are older now, you're a father now, so how you experience Murtagh as a character is maybe different for you as well. Is that a fair characterization? I think so. I don't think I could have written this book 10 years ago. Not the way I did. [34]
One of the relationships that I feel like you didn't explore as much in the Eragon series but did become a little bit more important here in Murtagh is mothers. What was the process of exploring Selena and getting to bring a scene with her into the series for the first time? It was a lot of fun. It was great having Selena appear. Obviously it's a hazy memory on Murtagh's point point of view, but she sort of looms large over the story as a whole in the book. And rightly so, because he perhaps unfairly blames her for some of his circumstances, and he has to come to terms with that. And there's another character in the book who perhaps is forcing herself into a mothering position during the story and Murtagh has grapple with that as well. [11]

Daddy Energy

There are so many experiences that Eragon got through because either he was the first rider, and so people were treating him with a kindness that they wouldn't show a normal person, or we got that Eragon will persevere through anything and he just kind of shows up and gets it done. Murtagh experiences so many of the same situations and his approach is to replace like Eragon's perseverance with a kindness that was so unexpected from a character with his history. And so this book shows Murtagh's got like a really kind heart deep at the center of him. And he goes through some really awful stuff. But he keeps that kind heart. And I guess, how did you approach writing the soft interior of this man that you've really put through so much at the end of the day? But maintaining that really kind core that allows him to accomplish what he accomplished? That, again, was something that was a bit iterative. I wrote the book really thinking that the theme was him and Thorn grappling with their status in society? Are they going to remain outcasts, exiles? Are they going to reintegrate? What is their role in the world, and how do they feel about it? And after my editor read it, she said, "Yes, that's there. By the way, did you notice how he acts around children?" I said, "Well, yes?" She said, "Take another look at that." And it tied into so many important things for Murtagh that that really added a whole other layer. There's a certain innocence/naivete to Eragon that can sometimes lead him to be very successful at what he does, but also be a little bit, I don't want to say cruel, he's willing to kill and do things just like Murtagh is, but he's also innocent to a certain degree, at least to start with. And it leads to a different approach and a different outcome. Whereas Murtagh has had such dark experiences in his life, he approaches it very differently. [11]
Was the theme of inheritance in Murtagh intentional? Like with the relationships with the children and imparting either like a gift of a fork or wisdom on to or even a sense of caring on to a younger generation, was that intentional to bring over from the Inheritance Cycle or was that found kind of naturally? It was just what this particular story needed. Murtagh has already grown up. He's not an adolescent. He is a grown man. But this particular transformation that he needs to go through is not complete. And all the stuff with the children and the young people in the story. It's a nice tie-in, that theme of inheritance. But I wasn't aiming for that. [11]
I loved that each and every single one of those little side quests included younger people in a way that made Murtagh so protective of them. He has daddy energy. And the funny thing is, that's not because I'm now a dad. I do want to put that out there. In fact, the funny thing is I didn't intentionally make that a theme in the book. And I very much was focusing on the relationship that he and Thorn have with sort of a larger society. Do they belong, do they not belong? Do they rejoin society, do they not rejoin society? And after I sent the first draft to my editor, she came back to me and she said, "By the way, do you realize?" she pointed out the daddy energy, essentially. She didn't quite use those words, but it was the same thing. And she said, "you have this trend going through, think about it, think about how it relates to his character." And she was absolutely right. Just a few touches extra, really brought a lot to who he is. But I wouldn't say that was because I was a father. It was definitely an outgrowth of who Murtagh is as a character. [32]

Asking for Help

[Murtagh's approach to life] actually gets him into deep trouble in this book, because he refuses to accept help when he should have looked for help and stays in a place he shouldn't stay in when he knows he shouldn't stay and thus ends up in deep trouble. [There's a] moment fairly late in the book when he finally thinks that he should have reached out to Eragon, and he knows Eragon would have helped him. And he hates it. He does, but even then, he would accept it. Like, he's in the most dire depths of despair. And at that point, he starts rebuilding and accepting help. Uvek, Alín, he starts actually accepting help. And that's why, by the very end of the book, he actually is willing to participate in society, so to speak, and Thorn as well. [11]
Why does everyone kick Murtagh's ass throughout the book? Okay, I've seen a couple of people say that online, I'm actually going to take issue with that: he wins all of his fights. Except for when he is sort of tricked at one part of the book. But if you look at it, he really does win all of his fights. But with help Well, with some help here and there. Part of it too is he no longer has the help of Eldunarí that Galbatorix gave him. And so I think even though he knows that, subconsciously he goes into some of these fights thinking that he still has that power behind him and he has to kind of discover that "Oh, crap, I'm still stronger than a normal person and I do have a dragon with me, but I'm not invincible." And it takes him a little while to sort of get that beaten into his head. And I have to say at the beginning he's like too proud to ask for help. But then he evolves. Not just proud, I think resentful also. And that is kind of a large part of what the story is about. Will he and Thorn bend the knee enough of their ego to rejoin society and will society even accept them? [17]

Murtagh's Choices and Fate

Murtagh’s line of choice is “By my will, I make my way.” and I can see that reflected in your own journey from an outsider’s point of view. Is that something you would relate to? Yeah, I think that’s fair to say that’s a statement I relate to. But Murtagh is also a much more solitary person than I am. He doesn’t have the support structure that I do and so I’ve been very aware throughout my whole life, my whole career, how fortunate I am to have the support that I have had from my friends and family. My editor, my agent, my parents. I wouldn’t be where I am now. Aside from that, yes, I made certain decisions that started the ball rolling. But the fact that I was able to make those decisions and have the support to make those decisions is due to the environment, I would say. [28]
What is your vision of fate? I go back and forth on that. I think as many of my characters do that it's important to believe that we have some agency in the world. Even if things are predestined, if you feel as if things are predestined, you'll give up. Whether that's predestined or not, I don't know. But I like to believe that I have a sense of control over my life and even if there is a destiny that can't be escaped, we at least have a choice of how to face it. But I don't think that our lives are written in stone or that things can't be improved or changed. If that were the case, humanity would never have bettered its lot over the centuries. And I think that there's a unfortunate thread in modern thinking that kind of says that the situation you're born in and the life circumstances you find yourself is completely out of your control and as a result you cannot rise above that and you should blame those who are supposedly to blame for that situation. And whether or not that's true, I just think it's a very unhelpful way to think about life, because then you feel helpless. You feel like someone else is responsible for your situation and therefore, they're the ones with the power in life. And I always feel that we are the ones in charge of our own thoughts and feelings. The only thing you can control is yourself, ideally at least. And we are the agents of change in our own lives, even in the smallest ways. So that sort of learned helplessness is just a deadly, deadly way of thinking. And it leads people to becoming very angry I think. And that's not good for them or society. Murtagh, of course chose to disregard Umaroth's advice and go where the land is brittle. But even if he puts himself, or even if you put him through so much, he still chose and decides what's the outcome of his ventures. That is the consequence of freedom. You have to let people make stupid decisions. Democracy, freedom, whatever, you have to trust that it's better in the long run for people to have the chance to make stupid decisions. That just because you know better, you shouldn't be the ones telling them ultimately what they can or can't do, as long as it's not harming other people. What do you think will be the most important of lessons Murtagh learned during his sojourn in Nal Gorgoth? I would rather not say. I think that that would be me preaching to the readers. I'll let readers decide what they think the most valuable lesson is from that experience. [19]
Each time Murtagh is confronted with reminders and challenges, his responses to them feel very true to his character. How did you stay true to the decisions that Murtagh would make when confronted with these things? And in what ways, if any, did that inform the arc you wanted him to follow throughout the book? Well, I appreciate that you felt that those choices were true to who Murtagh is. I think when writing a character, at least for me, I create a mental framework for who the person is and how they would react. And then the story, especially if they're the main character, is tailored around that. I tailored the encounters and the choices and what happened specifically to who Murtagh and Thorn are and what their issues are. And that is the story. At least the way I built the story. There is no other story. If I weren't addressing their issues, this story wouldn't even happen. [34]
Could tell us a little bit of what it was like to write Murtagh's point of view, and how that was different from your approach to writing Eragon, especially having stepped outside of the world for so long. He's a lot less open and much more damaged, of course, and a lot angrier and a lot more resentful. And his relationship with Thorn is a lot rockier, a lot pricklier, one might say. But being older myself and having gone through some ups and downs in life, as we all do, writing Murtagh was more interesting as a result. But Murtagh also has a hard time in the book, necessarily so, I would argue, since I wrote it. But that took quite a bit of emotional energy as well, writing that. So really enjoyed it. I would love to write Murtagh again, especially since I think that he is in a much better place by the end of the book, even though he still has a lot to work through, he's taken the first big step in a lot of ways. And that's what this book was about, was him and Thorn taking that step, or deciding to take the step. Or being forced into taking the step really at certain points. Yeah, but it is his choice ultimately, and as it always is. [32]

Anti-Hero

People have strong opinions on Murtagh across the Internets. We want to know whether or not you would describe Murtagh as an anti-hero or an antagonist Well, he's heading in that direction. I think he was definitely an anti-hero for most of the inheritance cycle, and he's now tipped over into, troubled, but a genuine protagonist by the end of Murtagh. [32]
Yes, you can call him an anti-hero. Murtagh is an outcast with a complex life history. He has been both friend and enemy to Eragon through circumstances largely beyond his control. And for the first time in this book we see the world through his eyes. [18]
Murtagh's character evolves from antagonist to a kind of complex anti-hero in the new book. What were your motivations behind this evolution? He's not a villain, in the sense that he didn't choose evil for the most part, although he's made some questionable choices at times. So that was interesting to evolve. And I didn't want to push him further down the road of villainy, so to speak, because that just feels obvious and lazy to me. So I wanted to give him and Thorn a chance to find a path to redemption. There's also something to be said about the person who has to do everything because they're being brainwashed. That's the other thing. A lot of it he was forced to do. He still did it, and he had some choices along the way, but for the most part he was coerced, and that has to be taken to taken into account. [34]

Murtagh and Eragon as Mirrors

One of my favorite things about the book is that Murtagh, kind of like how Angela and Bachel are almost like evil twins, Murtagh goes through some of the same beats that Eragon gets in his book. I'm so glad you noticed, and I didn't even do it on purpose. When I was going through editing I started working up a whole list of things I was like these are mirrored experiences to some of the things that happened with Eragon. I didn't fight it, I actually embraced it. [11]
The problems that Murtagh and Thorn face seem to be mirrored of the problems that Eragon and Saphira had to face. Did you write it that way on purpose, and if so, why? Well, yes and no. Murtagh and Thorn could actually have been in the shoes of Eragon and Saphira. In another time, or if someone had made a different decision, it would have been Murtagh and Thorn who became famous Dragon Riders and Eragon and Saphira would have been cast out. They are very much the same and yet so different. It only makes sense that some of the problems they are now experiencing are the same ones Eragon and Saphira had to overcome. [23]
Murtagh is what Eragon would have been if he hadn't grown up in a loving environment. He has a much more difficult character than Eragon, much more prickly. Although he gets angry easily, he is a good person who hates injustice. Perhaps because he is a victim of it himself. He is much more aware than Eragon about how the world works. [4]
Murtagh and Thorn were once, albeit reluctantly, on the evil side of the force. Are these two characters negative incarnations of Eragon and Saphira? To a degree, but they're also very much their own people, given how different their life experiences have been compared to Eragon and Saphira. And they're aware of that difference. It's something Murtagh reflects on several times throughout the book. However, even if Murtagh and Thorn had been raised in the same circumstances as Eragon and Saphira, I think they would still be very different. Thorn has a much more trenchant sense of humor than Saphira, and even at the best of times, Murtagh would always have a greater tendency toward brooding than Eragon. [22]
I saw a parallel in Murtagh's life, a symmetry with his and that of Eragon. So we know that Eragon was raised as a humble farmer, whereas Murtagh was raised in court. But now Eragon plays a major role in the world, he has all the comfort he needs, he no longer lives in a thrifty environment. Whereas Murtagh is said to travel the world without a roof over his head, at the beginning of the book at least. And I was wondering regarding these circumstances, what does this exchange of places mean to you? I was thinking very carefully about the parallels between Murtagh's experience and Eragon's. And sometimes while I was writing the book, I found parallels emerging that I didn't originally expect. For example, when they leave Gil'ead, Thorn kind of grabs Murtagh and they have an involuntary flight where Murtagh is trying to get Thorn to land and Thorn won't listen to him. That's very similar to when the first time Eragon and Saphira flew together after leaving Palancar Valley right when the Ra'zac showed up. So there are lots of things over the course of the story that have sort of echoes with Eragon's experience. Some of that was intentional, some of that was purely coincidental, but I thought it made for an interesting contrast. [19]
Murtagh definitely has a harder lot in life than Eragon. His father didn't love him and even tried to kill him, leaving a scar. A painful life. And Eragon’s father took a blade to save his own son…. Eragon and Murtagh/Brom and Morzan are opposites in more ways than one. [T]
What was the hardest challenge in writing from the perspective of Murtagh after writing from the perspective of Eragon for so long? Figuring out how his voice differed from Eragon's, and how Thorn differed from Saphira, and their relationship differed from Eragon and Saphira's. And then also I went back and looked at Murtagh's dialogue from Eragon, and boy was I pretentious back then. And I didn't want to write him exactly the way I'd written him in the first book, and balancing that and also figuring out his relationship with Thorn, that was the challenge. [34]
Murtagh is not as easy to get along with as Eragon. He is angry with his situation and resentful. Both he and Thorn have all these different feelings going through them, which makes it interesting for a writer to write about them. [23]

To make money, you need to have paying customers. But how do you attract those customers? And do you need an unlimited budget to reach them? Not necessarily. Advertising your business is not optional, especially for small businesses, but it doesn’t have to be a huge financial investment either. Here are some of the best (and low-cost) ways to advertise your business now.

What Is Business Advertising?

Business advertising is a tactic that helps businesses reach potential customers and encourage them to make a purchase. It is often a component in an overall marketing strategy that can help you stand out from the competition and gain attention.
While business advertising used to be limited to traditional print options, such as newspaper ads or brochures, today’s digital world means there are more opportunities to advertise nearly everywhere. Selecting the right advertising avenues is important, and the best way to narrow down the choices is to understand who your target audience is and where they are spending their time.

Why Business Advertising Is Important

Business advertising is important because it’s an essential part of creating and sharing your brand story. Customers want to know what a business is all about, what it stands for, and why they should spend their dollars on its products or services. With such a saturated market and the seemingly endless reach of the internet, businesses must advertise strategically in order to establish and maintain their reputation.
So, who is paying attention to business advertisements? Almost everyone, as it turns out. No matter what form of advertising a business opts to utilize, there is an audience for it. And the statistics support the idea that advertising is not going anywhere, with growth predicted to continue over the next several years. Here are some significant numbers related to business advertising:

• More than 1.2 million businesses use Google Ads to advertise their products and services
• In 2023, 29% of respondents ages 18 to 24 said they paid the most attention to social media advertising, followed by television and the internet
• This year, online advertising revenue in the United States will exceed $222 billion dollars, more than all other media combined
• Google, Spotify, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Meta, X (formerly Twitter) and Pinterest are the leading digital platforms advertisers use
• Businesses earn around $8 for every $1 spent on Google Ads

What these numbers mean for small businesses is that not only must they include advertising in their marketing strategy, but they must also determine what online, traditional and digital platforms will offer them the best return on their investment.

Business Advertising vs. Marketing

Although sometimes used interchangeably, business advertising and marketing are two different concepts. Advertising works as a subset under the larger umbrella of marketing, along with other categories such as branding, sales and public relations.
Marketing can be divided into what is known as the 4 Ps: product, price, place and promotion. Advertising is found in the last of these four tenets, promotion, which focuses on communicating with potential customers and convincing them to make a purchase.

15 Ways To Advertise Your Business

Customers are inundated with shopping options, from small businesses to massive online corporations. It’s important to remember that even in this saturated market, buyers still value a human connection, excellent service and high-quality products and services. Taking the time to advertise your business both thoughtfully and strategically can help you stand out from the competition. Here are 15 of the best ways to advertise your business:

Establish a Website

Potential customers love to have a business website to visit, even if it’s a simple one. A website serves as a central location for sharing your brand story, product and service information, updates, special events and so on. All of this serves as a way to promote your business 24/7.

Claim Your Google Business Profile

Once you have a website, claim your Google Business Profile, a free tool small businesses can use to manage how they appear in search results. Verifying your profile and listing means you show up on Google Maps and makes your business more credible, which in turn sends more customers your way.

Create Local Listings

Third-party websites, such as Yelp, Bing, and the Better Business Bureau, serve as directories for business listings, so you’ll want to make sure you are added to them. Add as much information as possible to your listing, including address, phone number, website and hours of operation, and update them regularly as needed.

Prioritize Social Media

While social media may feel overwhelming, it is a huge part of successful advertising for businesses today. Connecting with your target audience via Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or X (formerly Twitter) allows you to share content, answer questions, and attract new customers.

Utilize Influencers

Many businesses choose to utilize social media influencers to help with their advertising efforts. Local accounts who have large followings are often receptive to partnering with businesses for promotions or giveaways, which helps boost their reach as well as yours.

Optimize Your SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a completely free way to improve your website’s ranking in search engine results. Using relevant keywords, headings, images and links helps Google and other engines find your site more quickly, which in turn pushes it closer to the top of the results pages.

Start a Blog

Another part of SEO is publishing high-quality content, and one of the easiest ways to do that is by blogging. Sharing content that provides value to your readers is an excellent form of passive advertising that can be done in many different ways. Think about creating posts that offer information, entertainment, testimonials and resources.

Run Paid Ads

Running ads is a more expensive form of advertising, but they also offer a high return on investment. Paid advertising can be seen everywhere, from Google search results pages to social media to appearing in the sidebars of websites you are browsing.

Share Interactive Content

Enhancing the consumer experience through interactive content is another way to subtly advertise. Customers who are able to engage through e-books, quizzes, or infographics enjoy these experiences and remember the brand that is providing them with the content.

Host a Webinar or Workshop

Another way to advertise your business is by sharing knowledge yourself, through a webinar or workshop. Hosting an online or in-person event where attendees can ask questions, gather information or learn a new skill is a highly effective way to make your advertising more personal.

Gather Reviews

Having positive reviews from real people helps to build momentum and legitimacy around your business. Potential buyers rely on the reviews published on Google and Yelp before deciding to make a purchase, so take the time to ask for feedback from happy customers.

Get Back to Basics

Advertising has changed a great deal over the years, but there is still value in many old-school methods. While business cards, magazine or newspaper ads and paper mailings may seem out of date, for some brands they are still a worthwhile investment for reaching certain target audiences.

Launch an Email Campaign

Email advertising campaigns are a low-cost way to reach both new and existing customers. The key is to send emails strategically and make sure they provide value, such as business or product updates, special events and seasonal discounts.

Reward Loyalty

Customers love being rewarded for their brand loyalty, making it another effective avenue for advertising. Offering tokens of thanks, such as discount codes and freebies to customers who make purchases or refer others to your business is a way to see big results for a small price tag.

Support Local

If you are a small business, getting involved with the local community as much as possible is another great form of advertising. Attending events, offering a sponsorship, giving in-kind donations or volunteering with an organization or on a board all provide the opportunity to share about your business.

Bottom Line

No matter the size of your business, advertising is an absolute must in order to reach customers in 2024. Thankfully, there are many different ways to advertise your business and many of them are free or low-cost. We recommend starting with a few and slowly adding more as time goes on and your business grows.

Week 1: Introduction to Poetry and Sonnets
Day 1: Overview of Poetry Styles - Activity: Icebreaker - Introduce yourself through a poetic name acrostic. - Lecture: Brief history of poetry, introduction to various styles. - Discussion: What draws you to poetry? Share your favorite poems.
Day 2: Understanding Sonnets - Activity: Analyze a classic sonnet together. - Lecture: Explanation of sonnet structure (Shakespearean and Petrarchan). - Discussion: Share initial impressions and feelings about sonnets.
Day 3: Writing Exercise - Crafting a Sonnet - Activity: Break down sonnet structure with examples. - Assignment: Write a sonnet exploring a personal experience or emotion. - Vocabulary Words: Quatrain, Couplet, Volta.
Day 4: Peer Review and Feedback - Activity: Peer review workshop for sonnets. - Lecture: Discuss common challenges and strategies in sonnet writing. - Discussion: Share insights gained from reviewing peers' work.
Day 5: Recap and Reflection - Activity: Reflect on the week's lessons and exercises. - Lecture: Overview of upcoming weeks. - Assignment: Write a short reflection on what you've learned about poetry and sonnets.
Study Guide Questions for Week 1: 1. What is the basic structure of a sonnet? 2. Compare and contrast Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnets. 3. How does the volta contribute to the meaning of a sonnet? 4. Discuss the role of rhyme and meter in sonnets. 5. Explore your personal connection to poetry. What emotions or themes resonate with you?
Quiz: A short quiz assessing understanding of sonnet structure, key terms, and the historical context of poetry.
Week 2: Embracing Haiku and Villanelle
Day 1: Understanding Haiku - Activity: Analyze classic haikus. - Lecture: Explain the traditional structure and themes of haikus. - Discussion: Share thoughts on the simplicity and depth of haikus.
Day 2: Crafting Haikus - Activity: Write haikus individually. - Lecture: Discuss the significance of nature in haikus. - Discussion: Share and discuss individual haikus.
Day 3: Unraveling the Villanelle - Activity: Analyze a famous villanelle. - Lecture: Explore the structure and repetition in villanelles. - Discussion: Discuss the impact of repeated lines on the overall theme.
Day 4: Writing Exercise - Composing a Villanelle - Activity: Break down the process of crafting a villanelle. - Assignment: Write a villanelle on the theme of memory or loss. - Vocabulary Words: Tercet, Refrain, Envoi.
Day 5: Peer Review and Feedback - Activity: Peer review workshop for villanelles. - Lecture: Discuss the challenges and beauty of crafting repetitive forms. - Discussion: Share insights gained from reviewing peers' villanelles.
Study Guide Questions for Week 2: 1. What defines a haiku? Discuss its structure and thematic elements. 2. Explore the cultural significance of nature in haikus. 3. What is the structure of a villanelle, and how does repetition contribute to its impact? 4. Discuss the emotions evoked by repeated lines in a villanelle. 5. Reflect on the process of crafting a villanelle. What challenges did you face?
Quiz: Assessment on the understanding of haikus, villanelles, and the effective use of repetition in poetry.

• Meet the Kyanah -- the alien civilization I've been working on since 2016
• A Primer on Kyanah Physiology
• Aliens Deserve Alien Brains
• A Primer on Kyanah Pack Dynamics
• Advanced Kyanah Psychology: Inter-Pack Dynamics
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part I
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part II
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part III
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part IV
• The Motives for Project Hope: Part V
• Intro to Kyanah Politics
• An (abridged) Beastiary of the Kyanah Homeworld
• Plantlife of the Kyanah Homeworld
• An Analysis of Kyanah Military Forces: Part I -- Tech
• An Analysis of Kyanah Military Forces: Part II -- Organizational Structure
• An Analysis of Kyanah Military Forces: Part III -- Military Doctrine
• Alien Computers Are Alien
• Alien Computers Are Alien -- Part II: Kyanah-Human Cyberwarfare
• Alien Computers Are Alien -- Part III: A Guide to Kyanah Internets
• A Look Into the Kyanah Education System
• A Rare Look at Kyanah Living Spaces
• A Primer on Kyanah Economics
• Kyanah Food and Drink
• The Kyanah Have A Desert Planet -- Wait No It Has 12 Biomes: Part I
• The Kyanah Have A Desert Planet -- Wait No It Has 12 Biomes: Part II
• Kyanah City-State Dynamics: Part I -- Intercity Relations
• Kyanah City-State Dynamics: Part II -- City-State Demographics
• A Map of the Kyanah Homeworld: Part I
• Some Notes on Kyanah Timekeeping
• Profiles of Kyanah City States: Part I -- the Rktakian Kwardniet
• Profiles of Kyanah City States: Part II -- the Far South
• Profiles of Kyanah City States: Part III -- Everywhere Else

As was (maybe) previously stated, Kyanah don't have distinct languages with specific labels, yet this does not mean that they all share a common language. The vernacular tends to differ slightly from city-state to city-state; in the next city-state over, there might only be a few small spelling and pronunciation changes or some differences in handling obscure grammatical edge cases, but as one goes further and further away, the differences quickly accumulate. In most regions of the world, it's possible to understand the language up to a few hundred kilometers away from one's home city-state without dedicated study, but there's no hard-and-fast boundary where one language "ends" and another "begins". For this reason, linguistic aptitude is not a function of how many languages a particular Kyanah knows, but how large of an area they can make themselves understood in. Many of the specific vocabulary and grammatical structures used in Ikun are understood by educated Kyanah in other parts of the world, and tend to be used in settings where packs from many different regions of the world, with few or no linguistic features in common, must communicate, such as science or diplomacy. Due to Ikun's soft power and large-scale internet footprint, this is especially common in Net Zone 1; most but not all online content from this region is at least somewhat understandable to Kyanah from Ikun.
Notably, Kyanah have a syrinx rather than a larynx, meaning that their spoken languages are not pronounceable by humans and they also generally cannot pronounce human languages. Their typical vocalizations tend to sound like a mixture of rapid-fire grunts, hisses and chirps or screeches, which can vary considerably in pitch and cadence--not too dissimilar from how small theropods are believed to have sounded. Various low-pitched bellows and roars appear to be used in the same manner as shouting, being used to be heard across long distances, draw attention, or express anger. Naturally, this has presented considerable difficulties in translating proper nouns. With nothing else to go on, they have been forced to simply do a one-to-one replacement of the characters in their proper nouns with those in the Latin alphabet that most closely resemble them; humans have altered the conversion charts slightly in order to produce more consistently coherent and pronounceable results. Thus, for instance, the label "Kyanah" is simply a human construct and sounds absolutely nothing like what they call their species in their (as in, the soldiers from Ikun city-state) own spoken language. Actual communication between species was initially done through ad hoc gesticulation and amalgamations of human and Kyanah sign languages, which was gradually formalized in the first few years of the invasion, as well as occasionally communicating through writing or drawing when practical. By the end of the war, reliable inter-species machine translation and text-to-speech software would be developed, and in the subsequent years, this would advance to BCI devices that could generate speech in real-time, although not particularly reliable. Interestingly, even Kyanah who have a high base vocabulary of human words seem to struggle significantly with things like modifiers and word ordering, as their own languages tend to handle them in a radically different fashion.
For instance, over 95% of Kyanah writing systems organize words into binary trees rather than linear sentences, with children being semantically related to parents (e.g. subject and object, modifier and modified etc.). Linear scripts, while not unheard of, tend to be rare and associated with more primitive cultures, regardless of whether they're left to right, right to left, or top to bottom. It generally is not particularly important which words are the parent, left child, and right child; the writer chooses in order to optimize the aesthetics of their sentence-trees or place emphasis on a particular word. The nature of the semantic relationship between parents and children in the sentence-trees is denoted not by words comprised of characters, but by special markings called decorators, which in spoken language are expressed using subtle variations in tone, cadence, and volume, while in written language, they take the form of different types of lines between parent and child words. In most languages, decorators are also used for such things as prepositions, conjunctions, and tenses instead of using actual words for such things, resulting in all words referring to specific things or concepts, instead of having glue words that tie together other words or word groups like many human languages do. For instance, "You are eating", "You ate", "You will eat", "Are you eating?", and "Eat" (as an imperative command) all use the exact same words, with the difference lying in the decorators (or the tone/cadence/volume variations if spoken). It gets wilder, in Ikun, "Are the nyrud or the tyukrud in the field?" and "The nyrud and the tyukrud are out of the field." also use the exact same words. It's thus possible, in some cases, to meaningfully answer a question, especially a yes-no question, by simply repeating it back! (Albeit with variations in how the words are said, and with the caveat that simply "False" would be a much more succinct and natural response in this context.) For obvious reasons, decorators are dreaded by any humans attempting to learn Kyanah writing, and explain why Kyanah have an odd tendency to drop glue words and struggle with tenses when using human writing systems. In general, having a syrinx instead of a less complicated larynx allows them to make their vocalizations more compact by expressing a broader range of sounds, making the use of decorators instead of full words to save time a practical option.
Pronouns are another key difference; Kyanah have a whole set between singular and plural pronouns that they use to refer to packs, leaving human translators to awkwardly bounce between them when trying to translate these pronouns. Pack pronouns are a cultural universal for Kyanah; every single known language has them. It is customary to use pack pronouns when speaking to or about a member of another pack, even when only referring to that specific individual; using singular pronouns is usually a faux pas as it implies a higher-than-accurate degree of familiarity and intimacy, similar to a human walking up to a stranger and calling their spouse babe; or in the case of first-person singular, implies that the speaker is in some way deviating from their pack, if they have one. "I like nyrud steaks", when said to someone outside the speaker's pack, would for example strongly imply that the speaker's packmates in fact dislike nyrud steaks, and the speaker is the only one who likes them; saying it to another packmate however would have the connotation that humans would expect. The natural human tendency is to refer to packs using the plural pronouns, as they do in fact consist of multiple distinct individuals, but Kyanah would interpret this as referring to some vague, unspecified group, rather than their own pack. Additionally, as packs are atomic units in Kyanah society, occupying a single role and a single occupation, and being treated as one entity by their legal system, using plurals can create awkward statements in human languages and some meaning can be lost in translation.
Because the Kyanah use sentence-trees rather than linear sentences, languages aren't categorized into subject-verb-object, object-verb-subject, etc. but rather but the method in which the trees are traversed. Around 50% of the homeworld's population uses in-order traversal (left-child parent right-child), while 30%, including Ikun city-state, use pre-order traversal (parent left-child right-child) and the remaining 20% use post-order traversal (left-child right-child parent). To preserve the binary tree structure and prevent sentence-trees from exploding in size when dealing with many subjects/objects/etc. at once, lists of words with the same role in the sentence are placed into containers so as to occupy a single node. Kyanah sentence-trees can go on indefinitely as long as they are focusing on a singular subject; if the primary subject changes, a new sentence-tree must be started. Traditional Kyanah writing involves ornate sentence-trees shaped into aesthetically pleasing or meaningful shapes and sentence-trees are arranged on the page in a visually significant way; this sort of writing is roughly analogous to human calligraphy. Such niceties are typically ignored when typing on computers, in the name of efficiency and ease of programming. Instead, sentence-trees are automatically configured into rigid, standardized shapes and arranged on the page in such a way as to minimize wasted space, while still allowing for the creation of multiple threads. Naturally, traditional-minded Kyanah have been complaining about this since the invention of the computer, saying that it strips away subtle meaning and emotion from the text. However, the desire for efficiency has generally overruled such concerns in mainstream society.
Sentence-trees can be placed anywhere on the page, rather than following a particular order, though there is usually a clearly defined starting and ending point to a sequence; when the next tree in the sequence is not obvious from the position and orientation of the previous one, there is usually some arrow or other marker to point the path. Written works usually contain multiple sequences, each of which will take its own individual path around the page, and each of which is (at least primarily) written by a particular pack member. For this reason, written works are generally meant to be read by a pack collectively, with each member following one thread and later switching threads or explaining relevant aspects to each other if needed. Written works can be read by a single individual, but this requires the reader to frequently context switch between disparate threads that may only be loosely related to each other at times. Single threaded works do exist, but they are considered a separate form of art from mainstream, multi-threaded Kyanah literature. Multi-threaded literature is a direct descendent of story-threads, an ancient Kyanah art form and pastime that likely predates recorded history by a long shot, where members of a pack will take turns speaking sentences to collaboratively build a story. Good ones are sometimes written down and published, allowing other packs to enjoy them (sometimes even hundreds or thousands of years later), with each member of a pack choosing a thread and taking turns reading aloud their part of the story-thread and reenacting it. Interestingly, it is not just literature that is written this way; even textbooks, manuals, and research papers are all written in the same multi-threaded manner, and are likewise designed to be read by an entire pack.
There are plenty of distinct quirks between the different linguistic practices (using the term "language" may be a misnomer as linguistic practices tend to be continuous instead of being divided into discrete languages) in different parts of the world. Other than sentence-tree traversal, some of the most important differences center around the structure of words themselves. In most northern hemisphere scripts, characters represent sounds and have no intrinsic meaning on their own, while words are created by chaining these characters together based on the chronological order that they are pronounced. In southern hemisphere scripts, characters usually represent a few hundred basic objects and concepts and words are created by combining them, either in a linear chain or a graph-like structure, and the graphs tend to have their own unique algorithms for traversing them when reading or speaking, making such linguistic practices among the hardest to learn. For instance, in Kanenhah, "nuke" can be written (or spoken) by combining the characters for "made" (as in, made by Kyanah, not natural), "sun", and "egg" into a graph where the first two connect to the third, while in Koranah, the same word created by linearly chaining characters for "place" and "destroy" plus decorators to make the literal meaning "place destroyer" (which are written and pronounced somewhat differently from Kanenhah's characters for "place" and "destroy"). As an aside--the explanation for why there are so many broad and sweeping changes in language style and culture in general between the northern and southern hemispheres (a divide similar in many ways to the Western and Eastern worlds on Earth) is that impact ranges tend to cluster around the equator, which historically made travel between hemispheres much more difficult than travel within hemispheres. (I totally thought that through ahead of time, and didn't just make it up to retroactively justify the north-south divide.)

In today's data-driven world, pursuing a career in data science offers lucrative opportunities with impressive salaries and exceptional growth prospects. Data science courses equip individuals with the skills to analyze and interpret massive datasets, enabling them to uncover valuable insights that drive business decisions.
These comprehensive programs cover essential topics such as machine learning algorithms, SQL, Python, statistics, big data handling, data analytics, exploratory data analysis, neural networks, data visualization techniques, and various data science tools. Whether you aim to become a data analyst, data scientist, data manager, or data architect, data science courses provide a solid foundation.

What is Data Science?

Data science is an interdisciplinary field that combines various domains, including mathematics, statistics, computer science, and domain expertise, to extract insights and knowledge from data. It involves using scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to analyze large volumes of structured and unstructured data.

Key Aspects of Data Science

Data Collection and Preprocessing: This involves gathering data from various sources, cleaning it, and preparing it for analysis.

Exploratory Data Analysis: This stage involves analyzing and summarizing the data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships.

Statistical Modeling and Machine Learning: Data scientists apply statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms to build predictive models and uncover insights from the data.
Data Visualization and Communication: The findings and insights derived from the data are communicated through effective data visualization techniques, enabling better decision-making.

The Data Science Lifecycle

The data science lifecycle consists of several stages:

1. Data Ingestion: Collecting and integrating data from multiple sources.
2. Data Storage and Processing: Storing and processing the collected data for analysis.
3. Data Analysis: Applying statistical and machine learning techniques to extract insights.
4. Communication of Insights: Presenting the findings in a clear and actionable manner.

Distinguishing Data Science

Data science differs from traditional business intelligence (BI) in its focus on predictive analytics and forecasting, rather than solely understanding past data. It combines elements of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and domain expertise to analyze large volumes of data and uncover patterns, trends, and relationships that can drive informed decisions, solve complex problems, and create predictive models.

Applications of Data Science

Data science finds applications across various industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and more. It enables organizations to leverage their data assets, gain a competitive edge, and drive innovation by uncovering actionable insights that can inform decision-making processes.

The Data Science Lifecycle

The data science lifecycle is an iterative process that involves several key stages to extract valuable insights and make accurate predictions from data. This lifecycle aims to achieve specific business objectives by following a structured approach. Here are the essential stages of the data science lifecycle:

1.Problem Identification and Planning

The first step is to clearly understand the business requirements, goals, and objectives of the project. This stage involves identifying the problem to be solved, determining the data sources, planning the data collection process, and selecting the appropriate analytical methods.

2.Data Collection

In this stage, relevant data is gathered from various sources, such as databases, APIs, web scraping, or other data repositories. Ensuring the quality and relevance of the collected data is crucial for obtaining meaningful results.

3.Data Preparation

The collected data often requires cleaning and transformation to make it suitable for analysis. This stage involves removing duplicates, handling missing values, and eliminating irrelevant or inconsistent data. Data preparation is typically the most time-intensive process but is essential for accurate analysis.

4.Exploratory Data Analysis

Exploratory data analysis (EDA) involves analyzing and summarizing the data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships. This stage allows uncovering valuable insights that will be useful in the next phase of model building.

5.Model Building

Based on the insights gained from the exploratory data analysis, this stage involves using machine learning algorithms or statistical techniques to build predictive models. The models are trained on a portion of the data to make predictions or uncover patterns.

6.Model Evaluation

The performance of the predictive models is evaluated in this stage using a validation dataset. This step ensures that the models are accurate, reliable, and capable of generalizing to new data. Techniques like cross-validation and performance metrics are used for model evaluation.

7.Model Deployment

Once the model has been thoroughly evaluated and meets the desired performance criteria, it is deployed into a production environment. This stage involves integrating the model into existing systems or applications, allowing it to make predictions or generate insights on new data.
It's important to note that the data science lifecycle is an iterative process, meaning that the stages can be revisited and refined as needed. Additionally, frameworks like CRISP-DM (Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining) and OSEMN (Obtain, Scrub, Explore, Model, and Interpret) provide structured methodologies for implementing the data science lifecycle.

Key Prerequisites for Data Science

Educational Background

While there is no single defined educational path to become a data scientist, certain academic backgrounds are more common and preferred by employers. According to industry reports:
· 20% of employers seek data scientists with a bachelor's degree.
· 30% look for candidates with a master's degree.
· 24% prefer those with a PhD.
The most relevant educational backgrounds include:

FieldPercentage Engineering22.6% Mathematics21.8% Computer Science18% Statistics17.2%
Notably, 47.4% of data science roles require a degree specifically in data science.

Technical Skills

Proficiency in various technical skills is crucial for aspiring data scientists. These include:

Programming Languages

· Python (57% of job postings)
· R (33%)
· SQL (30%)

Data Analysis and Visualization

· Data visualization (10.2%)
· Statistical analysis (7.7%)
· Excel (10%)
· Tableau (11.5%)
· Power BI (9.1%)

Machine Learning and AI

· Machine learning (69%)
· Natural language processing (19%)
· PyTorch (10.8%)
· TensorFlow (10.4%)
· scikit-learn (6.4%)

Data Engineering and Cloud

· Microsoft Azure (28.5%)
· Apache Spark (11.7%)
· Hadoop (7.1%)
· Docker (6.9%)
· AWS (19.7%)

Other Essential Skills

In addition to technical skills, data scientists require a diverse set of abilities, including:

1. Mathematical and statistical reasoning
2. Business communication and leadership
3. Data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL)
4. Analytical mindset
5. Problem-solving
6. Continuous learning
7. Critical thinking
8. Decision-making
9. Strong business acumen
10. Effective communication

By combining the right educational background, technical expertise, and essential soft skills, individuals can position themselves as competitive candidates for data science roles in various industries.

Applications of Data Science

Data science finds applications across numerous industries, enabling organizations to leverage their data assets, gain a competitive edge, and drive innovation. Here are some key applications of data science:

Healthcare Industry

· Training chatbots using natural language processing (NLP) and data from scientific texts to answer patient questions.

· Analyzing data from clinical/lab reports, medical imaging, wearable health tech, and geographic information systems to improve diagnoses, treatments, and access to healthcare services.

· Identifying cancer tumors using machine learning algorithms.
· Tracking menstrual cycles and reproductive health.
· Personalizing cancer treatment plans.
· Cleaning and analyzing clinical trial data.

Financial Services Industry

· Assessing risk and managing investment portfolios.
· Calculating customer lifetime value.
· Improving customer experience using NLP chatbots.
· Accelerating underwriting for life insurance.
· Creating credit reports and providing lending solutions.
· Detecting fraud and insider trading.

Gaming, Sports, and Entertainment

· Detecting fraud in online gaming accounts.
· Managing risk in casinos and sports betting.
· Analyzing player behavior to improve gaming experiences.
· Making predictive insights and gathering performance metrics using AI-powered video analysis.

Energy, Oil, and Gas Industry

· Predicting maintenance needs and improving safety.
· Identifying ideal drilling sites using data from sensors and IoT devices.

Aerospace Industry

· Tracking aircraft damage and predicting maintenance needs.
· Optimizing flight operations using sensor data and predictive models.

Manufacturing, Logistics, and Supply Chain

· Improving production and distribution efficiencies using machine learning and predictive algorithms.

Insurance Industry

· Predicting claims and personalizing policy options.
· Detecting fraud using data science models.

Management Consulting and Professional Services

· Informing and validating managerial decisions.
· Improving recruiting processes using data analysis.

Travel and Transportation

· Predicting claims and personalizing policy options.
· Detecting fraud using data science models.
· Estimating travel time and enabling autonomous delivery.
· Optimizing resource allocation using data science models.
· Modeling traffic patterns and improving package delivery.

Retail and E-commerce

· Matching supply and demand.
· Refining recommendation systems using data analysis of customer behavior and inventory.
· Creating targeted ads and curating vacation rentals.
· Predicting consumer product interests and automating digital ad placement.

Social Platforms

· Curating matches on dating apps.
· Suggesting friends on social media.

Government

· Predicting recidivism rates.

· Using facial recognition to mine driver's license databases.

· Detecting tax fraud.

· Analyzing spending data and improving public services.

Construction Industry

· Forecasting, risk assessment, and project management optimization.

Communications, Media, and Entertainment

· Forecasting and operations research.
· Improving the customer experience.

Data Science Tools

Programming Languages and Libraries

Data science relies heavily on programming languages and libraries for data manipulation, analysis, and modeling. Two of the most popular languages in the field are Python and R. Python offers a vast ecosystem of libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, which cater to various data science tasks such as numerical computing, data manipulation, visualization, machine learning, and deep learning. R, on the other hand, is particularly strong in statistical analysis and graphics, with packages like ggplot2, dplyr, and caret.

Data Visualization Tools

Effective data visualization is crucial for communicating insights and findings. Tools like Tableau, Power BI, and D3.js are widely used for creating interactive and visually appealing dashboards, reports, and custom visualizations. Tableau is known for its user-friendly interface and ability to connect to various data sources, while Power BI excels in business intelligence and data exploration. D3.js, a JavaScript library, offers more flexibility and control for building custom web-based visualizations.

Statistical Analysis and Machine Learning Platforms

Tools like SAS, SPSS, and RapidMiner provide comprehensive solutions for statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and machine learning tasks. SAS is a powerful suite for data management, analytics, and reporting, while SPSS is widely used for statistical analysis and predictive analytics. RapidMiner is an all-in-one platform that covers the entire data science lifecycle, from data preparation to model deployment.

Big Data Processing Frameworks

With the exponential growth of data, big data processing frameworks have become essential for handling large-scale datasets. Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark are two popular open-source frameworks for distributed data processing and analytics. Hadoop is designed for batch processing of large datasets, while Spark excels at real-time streaming data processing and machine learning workloads.

Cloud-based Platforms

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way data science projects are executed, offering scalability, accessibility, and a wide range of tools and services. Platforms like Google BigQuery, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud provide cloud-based data warehousing, machine learning models, and analytics services. These platforms enable data scientists to access powerful computing resources and tools without the need for extensive local infrastructure.

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

IDEs like Jupyter Notebook, RStudio, and Spyder provide interactive coding environments for data scientists. Jupyter Notebook has gained immense popularity for its ability to combine code, visualizations, and documentation in a single notebook, making it easier to collaborate and share work.

Emerging Tools and Techniques

The field of data science is constantly evolving, with new tools and techniques emerging regularly. Some notable examples include AutoML platforms like DataRobot and ForecastThis, which automate various stages of the machine learning process, and natural language processing (NLP) libraries like NLTK and spaCy for text analysis and processing.

1. Key Considerations for Choosing Data Science Tools

· Scalability: Ability to handle large datasets and accommodate growing data volumes.

· Integration: Compatibility with existing systems and tools within an organization.

· User-friendliness: Ease of use and learning curve for data scientists and stakeholders.

· Functionality: Availability of required features and capabilities for specific use cases.

· Community support: Active development, documentation, and user community.

· Cost: Licensing fees, cloud computing costs, and overall budget considerations.

2. Staying Up-to-Date

Keeping up with the latest tools, techniques, and industry trends is crucial for data science professionals. Regularly attending conferences, workshops, and online forums can help maintain a competitive edge and ensure effective utilization of the most appropriate tools for specific projects.

Data Science Jobs in the Market

The demand for data science professionals is skyrocketing as organizations across various industries recognize the value of data-driven insights. Here are some key insights into the data science job market:

High Growth Potential

· Employment of data scientists is projected to grow by a staggering 35% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
· The data scientist job market is expected to grow by 35% from 2022 to 2032.

Lucrative Salaries

· Data scientists in the US earn an average annual salary of $128,895, making it a well-paid career path.
· The average salary range for a data scientist is $160,000–$200,000 annually.

Diverse Industry Opportunities

· Data science skills are applicable across many industries like healthcare, finance, technology, marketing, gaming, and retail, offering diverse job opportunities.
· Demand is highest in the Technology & Engineering (28.2%), HR (19%), Health & Life Sciences (13%), and Financial/Professional Services (10%) industries.
Entry-Level Requirements

RequirementDescription EducationTypical entry-level data science roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a quantitative field. Advanced DegreesMaster's or MBA degrees can help progress to higher-level data science roles. CertificationsCertifications can establish credibility and prove skills, especially for entry-level positions.
Salary Ranges

Experience LevelSalary Range 0-1 years$93,000 15+ years$149,000+
Median Annual Wage$103,500 Top 10% EarnersNearly $175,000
Remote Work Opportunities
Remote work opportunities make up 5% of the data science job postings, offering flexibility and a wider range of job options.

Diverse Career Paths

Common data science career paths include business analyst, data analyst, data architect, data engineer, data scientist, machine learning engineer, and research scientist. Additionally, data science teams often consist of diverse roles, such as data analysts, business intelligence analysts, and marketing analysts, each with their own specialized skills.
With the increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making across industries, pursuing a data science degree ensures long-term career prospects and the potential to make a lasting positive impact.

Conclusion

The exponential growth of data and the ever-increasing demand for data-driven insights have propelled the field of data science to the forefront of various industries. From healthcare and finance to retail and entertainment, data science courses equip individuals with the essential skills to harness the power of data, uncover valuable patterns, and drive informed decision-making. With comprehensive curricula covering programming languages, machine learning algorithms, data visualization, and statistical modeling, these courses pave the way for rewarding careers as data analysts, scientists, or architects.
As organizations continue to embrace data-driven strategies, the job market for data science professionals remains robust, offering lucrative salaries, diverse opportunities across sectors, and the potential for remote work. Pursuing a data science course not only enhances technical proficiency but also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills – invaluable assets in today's data-centric landscape. Ultimately, investing in data science education empowers individuals to unlock the transformative potential of data and contribute to driving innovation and growth across industries.

FAQs

1. What are the steps to pursue a career in data science?

To become a data scientist, a common pathway includes obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or Statistics. While a Master's degree can be advantageous, it is not always a requirement. Data scientists often command higher salaries due to the demand for their sophisticated analytical skills, and these salaries can vary depending on geographic location and experience level.

2. What educational background is required for a data scientist?

A career in data science typically requires an educational background in a field related to computer science, mathematics, or science. Degrees that are particularly beneficial for aspiring data scientists include those in Computer Science and Data Science/Computer and Data Science.

3. How is the data science learning journey structured?

The data science learning path is designed as a series of carefully selected courses that form a comprehensive plan to acquire the necessary skills for a data scientist role. Completing this learning path and all the associated data science courses typically takes around 8-9 months.

4. What should I do after high school to become a data scientist?

For those in India aiming to become a data scientist, the initial step after completing the 12th grade with Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics is to obtain an undergraduate degree. Relevant fields of study include Data Science, Computer Application, Mathematics, and Statistics. Pursuing a postgraduate degree in these disciplines is also recommended.

The End of the Old Testament

Beginning in 606 BC, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon launched the first of three successive attacks upon the city of Jerusalem and the people of Judah. During the second attack (597 BC), Ezekiel, Daniel, and about 10,000 other inhabitants of Jerusalem were carried into captivity. During the third attack (587-586 BC) Jerusalem was completely destroyed. Her walls were broken down. The gates were burned. The temple was destroyed. The city was left desolate in shambles.
While in captivity, Daniel foretold that the Babylonian Empire would be overtaken by the Medes and the Persians, the Medes and the Persians would be conquered by the Greeks, the Greeks would be conquered by the Maccabeans (Hasmoneans), and the Hasmoneans would be conquered by the Romans. The Romans later installed the Herodians as vassal (or "client") kings of Rome over Judea. Daniel further foretold that the establishment of the kingdom of God would take place during the days of the this mixed empire (Dan. 2:41-44); this empire began near the end of the "intertestamental period," spilling over into the times of the New Testament.

The Intertestamental Period

The time between the last writings of the Old Testament and the appearance of Christ is known as the “intertestamental” (or “between the testaments”) period. It lasted from the prophet Malachi’s time (about 400 BC) to the preaching of John the Baptist (about AD 25). The political, religious, and social atmosphere of Israel changed significantly during this period. Again, much of what happened was predicted by the prophet Daniel. (See Daniel chapters 2, 7, 8, and 11 and compare to historical events.)
Israel was under the control of the Persian Empire about 539–332 BC. The Persians allowed the Jews to practice their religion with little interference. They were even allowed to rebuild and worship at the temple (2 Chron. 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-4). This span of time included the last 100 years of the Old Testament period and about the first 100 years of the intertestamental period. This time of relative peace and contentment was just the calm before the storm.
During the intertestamental period, Alexander the Great defeated Darius of Persia, bringing Greek rule to the world. Alexander was a student of Aristotle and was well-educated in Greek philosophy and politics. Alexander required that Greek culture be promoted in every land that he conquered. As a result, the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek, becoming the translation known as the Septuagint. Most of the New Testament references to Old Testament Scripture use the Septuagint phrasing. Alexander did allow religious freedom for the Jews, though he still strongly promoted Greek lifestyles. This was not a good turn of events for Israel, since the Greek culture was very worldly, humanistic, and ungodly. As a result, many in the Jewish population would begin to adopt increasingly Hellenistic views and ways of thinking about God and the Scriptures.
After Alexander died, Judea was ruled by a series of successors, culminating in the Selucid king Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus did far more than refuse religious freedom to the Jews. Around 167 BC, he overthrew the rightful line of the priesthood and desecrated the temple, defiling it with unclean animals and a pagan altar (see Mark 13:14 for a similar event to take place in the then future). Antiochus’ act was the religious equivalent of rape. Eventually, Jewish resistance to Antiochus, led by Judas Maccabeus and the Hasmoneans, restored Jewish priests and rescued the temple. The period of the Maccabean Revolt was one of war, violence, and infighting.
Around 63 BC, Pompey of Rome conquered Israel, putting all of Judea under control of the Caesars. This eventually led to Herod being made the vassal (or "client") king of Judea by the Roman emperor and senate. This is the nation that taxed and controlled the Jews and eventually executed the Messiah on a Roman cross. Roman, Greek, and Hebrew cultures were now mixed together in Judea.
The years of Herod’s rule were a time of turmoil for the Jewish people. He was an Idumean. His ancestors had been forced to convert to Judaism, but the Jews never accepted Herod. In fact, they resented him. He was the representative of a foreign power. Scheming, jealous, and cruel, he killed two of his own wives and at least three of his own sons. Just five days before his own death, Herod had his oldest son, Antipater, put to death. Augustus once said that it was better to be Herod’s pig than his son (a wordplay, since the Greek words for pig, hus, and for son, huios, sound very much alike). His relations with Rome were sometimes troubled due to the unsettled conditions in the empire. Herod was a strong supporter of Antony, though he could not tolerate Cleopatra with whom Antony had become enamored. When Antony was defeated by Octavian (31 BC), Herod pledged his full support to Octavian.
Herod proved himself an efficient administrator on behalf of Rome. He kept the peace among a people who were hard to rule. He was a cruel and merciless man. Yet, during a time of great famine, he used his own funds to feed the people. Among his many building projects in Jerusalem, his greatest contribution to the Jews was the beautification of the Temple in Jerusalem. This beautification seems to have largely been an attempt to conciliate his subjects. The Temple, decorated with white marble, gold, and jewels, became proverbial for its splendor: “Whoever has not seen the temple of Herod has seen nothing beautiful.”
It was during the reign of Herod that Jesus was born (Matt. 2:1-18, Luke 1:5). Herod was the king who ordered the execution of the male babies in Bethlehem, for fear of being usurped by the prophesied Messiah (Matt. 2:16-18).

Major Political Events of the New Testament

At his death (4 BC), Herod left his kingdom to three of his sons. Antipas became tetrarch (“ruler of a fourth”) of Galilee and Perea (4 BC–AD 39). Philip became tetrarch of the Gentile regions to the northeast of the Sea of Galilee (4 BC—AD 34). Archelaus was to be king of Judea and Samaria, but Rome refused to give him the title of king. He was ethnarch (“ruler of the people”) of these two territories. He proved to be a poor ruler and was deposed (6 AD). His territories were placed under the direct rule of Roman procurators under the control of the governor of Syria.
John the Baptist rebuked Antipas for divorcing his wife in order to marry Herodias, the wife of Philip, his half brother. In retaliation, Herodias induced her dancing daughter to demand the head of John the Baptist. Antipas yielded to the grisly request (Mark 6:17-29, Matt. 14:3-12). Jesus once referred to Antipas as “that fox” (Luke 13:32). Later Jesus stood trial before him (Luke 23:7-12).
Except for brief periods, Roman governors ruled Archelaus’s former territory. The fifth procurator appointed to rule over Judea was Pontius Pilate, before whom Jesus stood trial prior to his crucifixion. Interestingly, three times Pilate pronounced Jesus innocent, yet he lacked the courage to set him free for fear of the angry mob whipped up by the enemies of Christ (John 18).
Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, executed James, the apostle and son of Zebedee, and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-5). He was smitten of God when he accepted the praise of the people, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.” Luke tells us that because “he gave not God the glory,” “the angel of the Lord smote him" and "he was eaten of worms," and died (Acts 12:21-23).
The governor Felix heard the apostle Paul preach the gospel and trembled at the word, yet postponed obeying the gospel (Acts 24–25). He hoped that Paul would bribe him with money, but Paul never did and remained a prisoner for two years under the governor Felix.
Festus, who took the place of Felix, also heard Paul’s case (Acts 25). Willing to do the Jews a favor, Festus suggested that Paul return to Jerusalem to stand trial. Being a Roman citizen, and knowing that the Jews intended to kill him, Paul appealed his case to Caesar.
This presented a problem for Festus. He had no choice but to send Paul to Rome. The problem was that he did not have any charges to write in the papers to accompany Paul to Rome. Thus, he asked Herod Agrippa II, great-grandson of Herod the Great, to listen to Paul’s self-defense and see if he could determine what charges should be written against Paul before sending his case to Rome. Agrippa heard Paul’s self-defense and was “almost” persuaded to become a Christian himself (Acts 26:28).
Upon the death of Festus, Albinis and then Florus were appointed governors of Judea. It was during Florus' reign that the Jewish revolt of AD 66-70 took place, which ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70.

Groups, Peoples, and Philosophies of the Day

During the span of the Greek and Roman occupations, some important political/religious groups emerged in Israel. In a study of the New Testament, it is important to consider the historical background and significance of some of the Jewish groups in Palestine at the time, whose names are familiar as participants in the drama of early Christianity. These were the groups with whom Christ Jesus had to deal as he observed and often challenged their views. Entrenched in positions of authority and leadership through anciently established hierarchy, tradition, or inheritance, their resistance to change was almost inevitable.
Most familiar of the New Testament parties and groups in political and religious life were the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the scribes. The nationalistic and revolutionary Zealots are also mentioned. The Herodians were exclusively a political party, members and supporters of the family of the Herods, whose titular authority was permitted by Rome. Finally, there's the Galileeans and the Samaritans, who weren't necessarily attached to any of the aformentioned ideologies, but were citizens of their respective states.
Jews and Samaritans were to have no dealings with each other, so Samaritans technically had no dog in this fight between the Jews' themselves and their own ideologies, but it's important to mention them because they contribute to the narrative of the New Testament through Jesus' dealings with them, and his famous parable of "the Good Samaritan."
THE SADDUCEES
The Sadducees constituted a conservative priestly party among the Jews. Their name probably derived from Zadok, the high priest who anointed Solomon as king (1 Kings 1:39). Comprised of high-priestly families from the Jewish aristocracy, who had come into power largely during the Maccabean War, they were educated and wealthy men, fairly few but wielding great power. No man who was unable to trace his descent from a priestly family could offer sacrifice in the Temple. The Sadducees represented the aristocrats and the wealthy. The Sadducees, who wielded power through the Sanhedrin, rejected all but the Mosaic books of the Old Testament. They refused to believe in resurrection and were generally shadows of the Greeks, whom they greatly admired.
While upholding the spread of Greek culture, the Sadducees stressed the letter of the Mosaic Law, or Torah. They denied the authority even of ancient tradition, and rejected the current concepts of angels, immortality, resurrection, and final judgment (Mark 12:18‐27, Acts 4:1-2; 23:8). They jealously guarded Temple worship and sacrificial rites, objecting to Jesus' cleansing of the Temple, which infringed their religious authority. After the destruction of the Second (or Herod's) Temple in 70 AD, when the Jewish state came to an end, their sway virtually ceased. In the absence of the Temple, the office of priest became obsolete, to be succeeded by that of the rabbi in the synagogue.
THE PHARISEES
It was when the people were in exile, Solomon's Temple having been destroyed, that the need arose for local gathering places, which became the forerunners of the synagogue. Even after some of the exiles returned to Palestine, and the Second (or Zerubbabel's) Temple was built, the continued dispersion of many Jews and the demand for Scriptural knowledge that came with the religious reformation of Ezra and Nehemiah made the synagogue and its school increasingly necessary. In New Testament times they prevailed in all cities and towns where Jewish people resided.
The beginnings of Pharisaism go back to the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, who lived about 450 years before the New Testament era. Ezra did much to bring stability to his nation in a period of downfall and discouragement. He upheld two main concepts, which formed, as it were, the heart of Pharisaism. First, he erected a distinct barrier between Jew and Gentile. The Jews he regarded as God's holy people. Intermarriage between them and others of mixed ancestry', such as the Samaritans, was not to be tolerated. Also, he made the Law of Moses the central point of Jewish religion, virtually establishing it as the constitution of the Jewish people.
In their objection to the Hellenizing of Judaism, after the rise of Alexander the Great, many Jews became even more strict in their desire to maintain the purity of their law and tradition. Thus it is easy to see how they came to be called Pharisees (Hebrew Perushim), meaning literally "separatists." These were the ones who adopted, or popularized, a prescriptive method of interpreting the Law of Moses, as opposed to the "descriptive wisdom" methodology of Jesus as seen in the New Testament.
Contributing a democratic influence in Judaism, Pharisees were basically laymen, coming from all walks of life, often including scribes and priests. Like the Sadducees, they sought to uphold the Mosaic Law, but their concern was to adapt its teachings to current situations, and their influence was primarily in the synagogue.
Much of the strength of Pharisaism came from the adaptability of this movement to changing conditions, a tendency which helped in preparing for Christianity. It was the Pharisees who were largely responsible for taking the Messianic idea and keeping it alive in the hopes of the people. Also, it was they who upheld the belief in immortality and the resurrection, to which the Sadducees took great exception. Unlike the Zealots, they generally rejected violence as a means to national liberation.
While modern research is providing justification for more favorable opinions concerning the Pharisees' role in history, there was ample room for Jesus' repeated denunciations of the abuses and inconsistencies he observed. The Pharisees added to the Law of Moses through oral tradition and eventually considered their own laws more important than God’s (Mark 7:1-23). While Christ’s teachings often agreed with the Pharisees, he railed against their hollow legalism and lack of compassion. Nevertheless, Pharisees such as Nicodemus (John 3:1; 19:39), Gamaliel (Acts 5:34) and his famous pupil, Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22:3) certainly represented the highest thought in Judaism.
THE SCRIBES
The powerful seventy-one-member Sanhedrin or Council, the highest Jewish court, was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees, with the high priest as president.
The scribes, strictly speaking, formed a legal profession rather than a party. They—and a nearly identical group, the lawyers—were usually Pharisees, though occasionally there were Sadducean scribes as well. They were professional teachers who were interpreters and transcribers of the Law at a time when hand-copying was the only method of preserving any document.
So insistent were the Jews upon maintaining the absolute accuracy of their sacred Scriptures that the work of the scribes demanded exceptional skill and mastery of the text. The Jews considered the Law of Moses to be the infallible standard, God's own law. It was their national, civil, moral, and religious law in one.
The scribes not only transmitted but contributed to "the tradition of the elders"—an ever-increasing body of legalistic detail, which, when committed to writing, formed the Talmud.
It was usual for the scribes to have another occupation to supplement their unpaid teaching and writing work. Their work combined the many functions of judge, lawyer, preacher, teacher, and scholar. The office of the scribe gradually merged into that of the rabbi, for when the canon of the Old Testament was finally settled in 90 AD—largely the result of the Pharisees' work—the need for the scribes as interpreters of the Law diminished.
There are many references to scribes in the Old Testament, but clearly "Ezra the scribe" (Neh. 8:1; 12:26) was the true antecedent of those referred to in the New.
THE ZEALOTS
The Zealots were members of a first-century political movement among Judean Jews who sought to overthrow the occupying Roman government. The word zealot derives from the Greek zelotes, meaning “emulator or (zealous) follower.”
According to the Jewish historian Josephus, the Zealots “agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord" (Antiquities 18.1.6).
Hezekiah, under whose leadership the Zealots arose, was martyred by Herod. Their appearance on the political horizon of Palestine came early in the Roman occupation. According to Josephus, they "were particularly active in AD 6 during the revolt of Judas of Gamala, in Galilee, who maintained that compliance with the Roman demand for a census would constitute an act of enslavement 'among Palestinians." Josephus was apparently unaware of the role played by Hezekiah in the rise of the Zealots. This appears from his reference to Judas as their author.
They "were most influential in Galilee and later in Jerusalem, especially from the time of Herod (37 BC –AD 4) until the fall of Jerusalem (AD 70)."
"They refused to pay taxes and considered it a sin to acknowledge loyalty to Ceasar." They "harassed the Roman administration with every means at their disposal." They "relentlessly opposed the Roman attempt to bring Judea under her idolatrous rule."
It was from among the Zealots that the extreme Sicarri arose. The Sicarii were famous for hiding their daggers in their cloaks and using them to secretly target their enemies during the festivals (Antiquities 20.8.10). Some sources make a sharp distinction between the Zealots and the Sicarii, while others do not. It seems fair to say that the Sicarii were part of the Zealot movement, but not all Zealots were Sicarii. Thus, “Zealot” was an umbrella term for the revolutionaries who rebelled against Rome.
Some sources say that those who belonged to the family dynasty of Hezekiah were all Sicarii. Wikipedia designates the Sicarii as “a splinter group of the Jewish Zealots.” The Sicarii are mentioned in Acts 21:38, where Paul was asked if he was the Egyptian who had led 4000 assassins (or “dagger-bearers”) into the wilderness.
Of importance in New Testament history, the Zealots led a rebellion when Rome introduced imperial cult worship. The Great Jewish Revolt began in AD 66. The Zealots successfully overtook Jerusalem, but their revolt was ultimately unsuccessful. In AD 70, the Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. A remnant of the Zealots then took refuge in Masada.
Josephus records many of the atrocities committed by the Zealots when they possessed Jerusalem, blaming them for being the ones truly responsible for its destruction, as the city was left quite desolate and chaotic by the time the Roman general Titus even came to finish it off.
It is my belief that there are, in fact, 5 kingdoms which precede the kingdom of God in Daniel chapter 2, and not 4, as commonly taught. It is also my belief that the fourth kingdom was the Hasmonean (Maccabean) Dynasty, and that the fifth kingdom (thus, the "Beast" of Revelation; see Daniel 7) wasn't Rome, but apostate Israel instead. It is my belief that the Beast represents apostate Israel as a whole, the culmination of which was the Zealots. This explains how it had authority over every nation (the Jewish Diaspora) and how it conquered the saints (same). The Zealots were just a symptom of the disease, but John’s vision focuses on them more because they were the ones who brought about the eschatological war.
THE HERODIANS
The Herodians held political power, and most scholars believe that they were a political party that supported King Herod Antipas, the Roman Empire’s ruler over much of the land of the Jews from 4 BC to AD 39. The Herodians favored submitting to the Herods, and therefore to Rome, for political expediency. This support of Herod compromised Jewish independence in the minds of the Pharisees, making it difficult for the Herodians and Pharisees to unite and agree on anything. But one thing did unite them—opposing Jesus. Herod himself wanted Jesus dead (Luke 13:31), and the Pharisees had already hatched plots against him (John 11:53), so they joined efforts to achieve their common goal.
The first appearance of the Herodians in Scripture is Mark 3:6, "And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him." Jesus had been doing miracles, which caused some of the people to believe in him for salvation, and that threatened the power and position of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians. The Herodians again joined with the Pharisees to challenge Jesus, to see if they could trap Jesus in his words by a trick question, to either discredit him or to get him to stop preaching (Matt. 22:15-22).
Jesus regarded the two groups as in unity against him and warned his followers against them: "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod." (Mark 8:15b). Yeast in this context is false teaching, the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, and hypocrisy. Many scholars believe that the Herodians looked to Herod as a messiah, a savior of sorts who would put the Jewish land in favor with the Roman Empire and bring blessings to them. Jesus’ presentation of himself as the Messiah was a threat to the Herodians' attempt to make Herod the influential political power in the land.
In the then future (now past; we're Preterists), the Bible tells us that many would be deceived by an Antichrist figure and would view this Antichrist as a "messiah." He would be a political leader as well as a false religious leader, and he would promise peace and prosperity through policy. The Herodians at the time of Jesus were also focused on political goals rather than the eternal goals that Jesus proclaimed. They thought Herod might bring peace politically. But Jesus came to bring us salvation from our sins. The lesson we learn from the error of the Herodians is that we are not to trust in man's devices or politicians, as they trusted in Herod (Psa. 118:8). We are to put our trust in the Lord.
THE GALILEEANS
A Galilean was an inhabitant of the area in Israel near the Sea of Galilee. In the time of Christ, Galilee was the northernmost of the three provinces of Israel, above Samaria in the middle and Judea in the south. Approximately 700 years before Christ, Galilee’s Israelite inhabitants were conquered by Assyria. Most of the Jews living there were relocated to Assyria, while non-Jewish immigrants moved into Galilee (2 Kin. 15:29–17:24). This is why the Bible sometimes refers to the area as “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Isa. 9:1, Matt. 4:13-16).
Judeans tended to look down on Galileans, viewing them as uneducated and of questionable ancestry (John 1:46; 7:52). Galileans also had a reputation of being rabble-rousers, as they often took part in protests and uprisings against the Roman occupiers. It is significant that Jesus grew up in Galilee (Matt. 2:19‐23) and in Galilee recruited most of his disciples, started his ministry, and performed his first miracles (Matt. 4:17-23, John 2:11). Being Galilean, Jesus “was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isa. 53:3).
We see glimpses in Scripture of how Galilee may have been a trouble spot for Roman rule. Gamaliel mentioned a failed revolt led by “Judas the Galilean” in Acts 5:37. In Luke 13:1-3, some people told Jesus about an incident involving Galileans: “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (vs. 1). Neither Scripture nor secular history gives any more details regarding this massacre, but it is likely that the Galileans, visiting Jerusalem to offer sacrifices, had been caught up in a nationalistic fervor and started a commotion on the temple mount. The Roman governor Pilate quickly and violently quelled the disturbance, killing the Galileans along with their sacrificial animals, perhaps as a public demonstration of how violators must “atone” for their “sins” against Rome.
Jesus responded to hearing about the massacre of the Galileans with a warning: “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2b-3). Instead of conjecturing on the Galileans’ sin, Jesus said to his audience that they needed take care of their own sin. They all needed to repent.
Peter, being a Galilean, spoke in a northern Aramaic dialect, and his accent and vocabulary gave him away when he was trying to remain anonymous on the night of Jesus’ arrest. As Peter was sitting in a courtyard during one of Jesus’ trials, a servant girl came up to him and said, “Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee” (Matt. 26:69c). Later, another servant girl said, “This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth” (vs. 71). A short time later, others said to Peter, “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee” (vs. 73). Galileans naturally stood out to the people of Jerusalem.
The fact that Jesus lived and ministered in Galilee is yet another example of his identification with those the world rejects. He came to seek and to save the lost. Those who follow his example will likewise proclaim his message and live out his teachings among culture’s outcasts and minister to “the least of these” (Matt. 25:40).
THE SAMARITANS
A Samaritan was a person from Samaria, a region north of Jerusalem. In Jesus’ day, the Jewish people of Galilee and Judea shunned the Samaritans, viewing them as a mixed race who practiced an impure, half-pagan religion.
Samaritans, as a people distinct from the Jews, are first mentioned in the Bible during the time of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 4:17, Neh. 2:10). Both Ezra chapter 4 and a fifth-century BC Aramaic set of documents called the Elephantine Papyri point to a schism between the Jews and Samaritans during this Persian period.
The Samaritans saw themselves as the keepers of the Torah and the true descendants of Israel, from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. They had their own unique copy of the Pentateuch, the first five books of Moses, and believed they alone preserved the original Mosaic religion. Samaritans also had a unique religious system and established their primary worship site on Mount Gerizim. They considered the Jerusalem temple and the Levitical priesthood illegitimate.
The historian Josephus and Jewish tradition trace the origin of the Samaritans to the captivity of the northern kingdom under Assyria in 721 BC. Jews of the northern kingdom intermarried with Assyrians after the captivity and produced the half-Jewish, half-Gentile Samaritan race. When the Jews accused Jesus of being a “Samaritan” in John 8:48, they were rudely suggesting that he was a half-breed, born of an unfaithful mother.
In New Testament times, the Jews despised Samaritans and would have nothing to do with them. The Samaritans were still living primarily around Mount Gerizim (John 4:1-42), but also kept to their own villages (Matt. 10:5, Luke 9:52). Scripture mentions encounters with Samaritans in towns bordering Samaria (Luke 17:11-19) and on roads between Jerusalem and Jericho (Luke 10:29-37).
Jesus met with difficulty when ministering to people in Samaritan villages (Luke 9:52-53) and at one point told his disciples not to enter them (Matt. 10:5-6). Nonetheless, Christ shared the good news with Samaritans, ministering to a Samaritan woman (John 4:4-26) and healing a Samaritan leper (Luke 17:11-19).
The most recognized Samaritan in the Bible is the one in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). A Jewish legal expert had put Jesus to the test, asking him to explain the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself”; specifically, he asked Jesus to define the word neighbor.
That’s when Jesus told his parable of a man in need, portraying the Samaritan as the hero in the story. In the lawyer’s eyes, the Samaritan was the least likely candidate to act lovingly and compassionately to his neighbor. As intended, the story shocked Christ’s audience of prejudiced Jews. Jesus showed that authentic love must transcend all human boundaries of race, religion, nationality, economic class, and educational status.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus told his disciples that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they would be his witnesses in Samaria. In Acts chapter 8 the prophecy was fulfilled, and Samaria became an early mission field for the spreading of the Church.

The Shammaite and Hillelite Interpretations of Mosaic Law

Shammai and Hillel were two influential Jewish rabbis whose commentaries on the Torah shaped Jewish theology and philosophy for hundreds of years. The Shammaite and Hillelite schools were the two dominant approaches to Jewish Law during the years of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Unfortunately, the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD resulted in the loss of most records relating to the debates between these two groups. The Hillelite school quickly gained dominance after the Temple was razed, so much of what we know about first-century Hillelite and Shammaite law comes exclusively from later Hillelite writers. These writers portray the Shammaite-Hillelite divide in a manner similar to modern two-party politics, with each side seemingly bound and determined to contradict the other on everything.
According to tradition, Shammai was a Pharisee who taught in the years just prior to Jesus’ birth. In his commentary on the Law, he emphasized the need for Temple rituals, and his interpretation is characterized as strict, literalist, and Israel-centric. The school that followed those interpretations is referred to as the Shammaite interpretation of Jewish Law.
Rabbi Hillel, a contemporary of Shammai, was less concerned with temple worship. His commentary is seen as being more liberal, tolerant, and accepting of Gentiles. Hillel was also known for codifying traditional patterns for exegesis into seven individual rules. His Hillelite school was a rival to the Shammaite approach. After the destruction of the Temple, the influence of the Shammaite school faded, and Hillel’s philosophy became the dominant approach to Jewish Law for more than 400 years.
Scholars are unsure how many of the differences between the Shammaite and Hillelite schools are factual and how many are the products of revisionist history. While Jewish scholars prior to 70 AD make frequent reference to the disagreements between these two groups, the vast majority of surviving records are from Hillelite writers. It’s possible that the Hillelites exaggerated some of the differences between Shammai and Hillel in order to portray Hillel in a more heroic light.
Even with such open questions, it’s clear that the interplay between Shammai and Hillel influenced Judaism during the early Christian era. The rivalry between the two schools greatly contributed to Judaism’s growing belief that the oral law—such as promoted in the Shammaite or Hillelite schools—was as authoritative as the written Torah.
Some scholars debate which school, Shammaite or Hillelite, had a greater influence on the theology of the New Testament. Jesus’ restrictive rules on divorce echo those of Shammai, while Hillel allowed for a wider range of acceptable reasons to end a marriage. Jesus also phrased the “Golden Rule” using a more challenging, positive expression, in contrast to Hillel’s lighter, negative expression of the same basic idea. At the same time, Jesus was welcoming of non-Jewish people and often castigated the Pharisees for their excessive legalism. The fact is that Jesus presented the truth, and his agreement with either Shammai or Hillel was secondary and coincidental. Jesus spoke the Father’s Word, and his teaching cannot be seen as a defense of any rabbi (John 12:49).
There is also an academic debate over the influence of Shammai and Hillel on the theology of the apostle Paul. On one hand, Paul was a student of Gamaliel, who came from the Hillelite school and might have even been Hillel’s grandson. But, prior to his conversion, Paul (Saul) was hardly a tolerant, Gentile-friendly Pharisee. Rather, in opposition to Gamaliel’s teaching, Paul took a severe stance. And in his letters Paul expresses an Israel-centric, all-or-nothing obedience to the Law (Rom. 3:19-28; cp. James 2:10), which many scholars would identify more with Shammai. Of course, as he was writing inspired Scripture, Paul was not concerned with what rabbi might have had a past influence upon him; he was “moved by the Holy Ghost” and wrote what the Spirit wanted (2 Pet. 1:21).

The Ediomite Lineage of Christ's Enemies

Around 63 BC, the Roman Triumvirate Pompey brought Judea under Roman Rule. He pushed all the Jews into the areas of Gallilee, Jericho and Jersalem. Then he settled Greeks and Syrians in the rest of the land of Palestine. Originally, Galilee was settled by the tribe of Benjamin who always followed the tribe of Judah.
A few years earlier, Hyrcanus, a descendant of the Maccabees, conquered the land of Idumea. Idumea was the home land of the Edomites. He forced all the Edomites to be circumcised and follow the Jewish laws.
The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1903 edition, says under the heading Edom:

"They were then incorporated with the Jewish nation, and their country was called by the Greeks and Romans “Idumea” . . . From this time the Idumeans ceased to be a separate nation, though the name “Idumea” still existed (in) the time of Jerome."

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau. Esau married into the families of the Canaanites. The Canaanites were the people that God told Moses and the Israelites to kill and drive out of the land of Canaan. They were warned never to mix or marry with the Canaanites. God gave Edom the land south of Judea. They were driven westward by the Natabeans to the area that became Idumea. Their border was only 19 miles from Jerusalem.
Flavus Josephus who lived from 37 AD to 100 AD confirms Edomite occupation in southern Judea:

“That country is also called Judea, and the people Jews; and this name is given also to as many as embrace their religion (Judaism), though of other nations. But then upon what foundation so good a governor as Hyrcanus (grandson of Mattathias patriarch of the Maccabees, a family of Judahite patriots of 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.) took upon himself to compel these Idumeans (Edomites) either to become Jews or to leave their country, deserves great consideration. I suppose it was because they had long ago been driven out of the land of Edom, and had SEIZED ON AND POSSESSED THE TRIBE OF SIMEON (their land not the people), AND ALL THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, WHICH WAS THE PECULIAR INHERITANCE OF THE WORSHIPERS OF THE TRUE GOD WITHOUT IDOLATRY…”

The word “Jews” in Scripture often refers to the inhabitants of the land of Judea. But it can also mean the tribe of Judah in some cases, or those who simply follow the Jewish religion (Judaism). The name for the land of Palestine was called Judea because they combined the name Judah and Idumea.
Now at the time of the Messiah, the Sadducees were in control of the Temple. Pharisees were the synagogue leaders. According to the Ency. Britannica and Philo, there were 6,000 Pharisees during the time of the Messiah.
Some had to be non-Jews and Edomites. When Herod came to power, he solidified his position by bringing in relatives from Idumea and appointing many non-Jews to important positions. And he killed the entire Sanhedrin except Hillel and Shammai. Herod was practicing Judaism, as many Edomites and Nabateans had been commingled with the Jews and adopted their customs.
The Edomites were called the Herodians in Scripture, and were politically aligned with Herod. As shown earlier, they plotted with the Pharisees to kill the Messiah.
The Bible also shows that some of the Pharisees were Edomites. Notice the verse below:

"They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?"-John 8:33

The Pharisees told the Messiah that they had never gone into bondage. This could only apply to the Edomites because the tribe of Judah was taken into captivity in around 586 BC by Babylon. They would have never told the Messiah that they never went into captivity. This verse proves that the Edomites were mixed among the Pharisees.
In the time of Christ, there were two Sanhedrins operating in Jerusalem, the first of which was a 23-member court run by the Sadducees that handled local affairs. Its larger counterpart, the Great Sanhedrin, was comprised of 70 elders with a president, who in the time of Jesus was Gamaliel. Acts 5:25 shows this group and the Great Sanhedrin coming together to discuss the problem of the Christians. The Great Sanhedrin functioned much like a combination of the Senate and Supreme Court, and most of its members at the time of the crucifixion were Pharisees from the school of Shammai.
You will note in the Book of Acts that Gamaliel, the president of the Great Sanhedrin, encouraged tolerance of the Christians. But because he and his followers were outnumbered by the aristocratic Sadducees and the Shammai-oriented Pharisees, the Great Sanhedrin ultimately elected to persecute the Christians. At the trial of Jesus before the elders of Israel, Gamaliel may not have been present. If he had, the circumstances may have turned out quite differently. The trial held to try Jesus was hurriedly assembled and included almost across the board members who were either Sadducees, or else Pharisees from the school of Shammai. It is possible that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimithea represented the school of Hillel.

Conclusion

It's important to keep in mind when studying all this that Jesus came to establish the New Covenant, which is about a heavenly Jerusalem, not an earthly one like the Zealots and Pharisees of Jesus' day thought or like how Zionists today think: "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). Jesus even said, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36b).

Unreleased tracks available. This is a full list of the songs I have in FLAC format. Some of these songs have obviously been released since I made the list.
10A - 118 - Sting - Englishman in New York (Leo Gira Remix).mp3
10A - 120 - &lez - Midire (Original Mix) [Bosom].mp3
10A - 120 - &ME - Homelands (Jinadu Vocal Edit).mp3
10A - 120 - Chaleee - WEMOYA (After Hours Mix).mp3
10A - 120 - Francis Mercier, Salif Keita, Nomis (FR) - Kabe (Extended Mix) [Universal Music Division Decca Records France].mp3
10A - 120 - J Bossa, LOV - Sway (Fka Mash Remix) [Shanti Radio].mp3
10A - 120 - Maxi Meraki - You Are My High.mp3
10A - 120 - Nico de Andrea, Julia Church - Worst Case Scenario (DSF Remix) [Armada].mp3
10A - 120 - Tayllor - Kasmir.mp3
10A - 120 - Travis Scott - Modern Jam (Chaleee & Sammi Ferrer Remix).mp3
10A - 121 - Charles & Eddie - Would I Lie [Hoax (BE) & Koshi Remix].mp3
10A - 121 - Da Capo - Make Love Not War (Die House Music Edit).mp3
10A - 121 - Davido - FEEL (Raffa Guido Remix).mp3
10A - 121 - Jolyon Petch - Insomnia (Moomba Bros Remix) [House Life].mp3
10A - 122 - Awka, Academia da Berlinda - So' de tu'.mp3
10A - 122 - Guri, Eider - That's My Game (Original Mix) [Sub_Urban].mp3
10A - 122 - Kid Bamboo - Inca (Savage & SHe Extended Remix) [My Other Side of the Moon].mp3
10A - 122 - Maz (BR), Antdot x The Temper Trap - Corpo e Canc,a~o x Sweet Disposition (Flex Orlando & Dilly Edit.mp3
10A - 122 - Maz (BR), Antdot, Let cia Fialho - Corpo e Canc,a~o (Original Mix) [Dawn Patrol].mp3
10A - 122 - Minoas Cirillo, ReiRei - Lover (Francesco Chiocci Remix) [MoBlack].mp3
10A - 122 - Minoas Cirillo, ReiRei - Lover (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
10A - 122 - Sasson - Makalu.mp3
10A - 122 - Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child (Jordaz & Suite 52 Remix).mp3
10A - 123 - Maz (BR) & VXSION - Amana Is The Answer (DNS Edit).mp3
10A - 123 - Maz (BR), VXSION - Amana (Original Mix) [Dawn Patrol].mp3
10A - 123 - Maz, VXSION x Florence - Say My Name x Amana (Breakstorm Vocals Edit).mp3
10A - 123 - Peter Guzman, Gianni Petrarca - Tempo Curar.mp3
10A - 123 - Phonique, Bakka (BR) - Guarana.mp3
10A - 123 - Tory Lanez - The Color Violet (Ikerfoxx (ES) Remix).mp3
10A - 124 - Abel Ray X Lazarusman - Woyengi.mp3
10A - 124 - CIRCLE - NeverSeen Remix.mp3
10A - 124 - Downstream - Makeez, Life on Planets (Lazare Remix).mp3
10A - 124 - Kid Cudi - Day N Night (Jamy Nox Remix).mp3
10A - 124 - Peaty x Soldera - Niafunke.mp3
10A - 124 - Supermode - Tell Me Why (James Carter Remix) [Axtone].mp3
10A - 125 - Birds of MInd - No time for Tears (Nick Morgan Rework).mp3
10A - 127 - Dimas Perera, Marling - El Tren (Eloy Gonzalez Remix) [SoundVibes].mp3
10B - 122 - Neil Young - Harvest Moon (Mita Gami Edit).mp3
10B - 122 - Skeleton Army, Rockin Moroccin - Touch (Extended Mix) [Get Physical].mp3
11A - 116 - Yamil - Maiye (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
11A - 118 - Black Coffee & David Guetta - Drive (Da Capo Dub Touch).mp3
11A - 118 - Hamid Al Shaeri - Ouda (PEATY Remix).mp3
11A - 118 - Moojo - Ze Roberto.mp3
11A - 118 - Nuzu Deep - I Am One With The Universe (Chaleee Remix) [WeAreiDyll].mp3
11A - 120 - Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (Kimotion Edit).mp3
11A - 120 - Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (Moojo Edit).mp3
11A - 120 - Kang - Day5 (Faros Remix).mp3
11A - 120 - Mano, Ajna - Bottom.mp3
11A - 120 - MARTINE GIRAULT - Revival (Newman (I Love) remix).mp3
11A - 120 - Massh - iLanga (&ME Edit).mp3
11A - 120 - Myd, Chambord - Together We Stand (Chambord Remix) [Ed Banger].mp3
11A - 120 - Nico de Andrea, Eli & Fur - Start The Fire (Tayllor Extended Remix) [Armada].mp3
11A - 120 - Sofi Tukker, &friends, Mari Merenda, Sophia Ardessore - Veneno (&friends Extended Mix) [SOFI TUKKER LLC].mp3
11A - 121 - Ajna & Jamiie ft Nomvula - ID DEMO NEW.mp3
11A - 121 - Chocolate Puma, Haska - Always And Forever (Extended Mix) [Armada].mp3
11A - 122 - Busta Rhymes, Rampa, Black Coffee - Mamakusa.mp3
11A - 122 - CamelPhat - What A Day (Marten Lou Remix).mp3
11A - 122 - Kabza de Small - Imithandazo (David Mackay Remix).mp3
11A - 122 - Lemon & Herb - Zulumke (Da Capo Afro Dub).mp3
11A - 122 - Mont Rouge - Belsunce.mp3
11A - 122 - NenaHalena, AMEME - Own The Fire (Extended Lit Mix) [One Tribe].mp3
11A - 123 - CAMAGU - Augusto Yepes.mp3
11A - 123 - Coll - Daydreaming.mp3
11A - 123 - Daft Punk - Get Lucky (Rivo Remix).mp3
11A - 123 - David Tort, Markem - Move Ya Body (Extended Mix) [HoTL].mp3
11A - 123 - Keinemusik, Alan Dixon, Arabic Piano - Thandaza (Original Mix) [Keinemusik].mp3
11A - 123 - Mano Negra - Sueno De Solentiname (Pablo Fierro Version).mp3
11A - 123 - Pablo Fierro, Joyia - Our Love (Original Mix) [WE'RE HERE].mp3
11A - 123 - Royksopp - Running To The Sea (DSF Edit).mp3
11A - 124 - DiMO (BG), Mr.K (BG) - Ronda (Original Mix) [Rituals].mp3
11A - 125 - Rampa - Les Gout (Sllash & Doppe Edit).mp3
11A - 125 - Tayllor - Eyes On Me.mp3
11B - 122 - Baron (FR), Mel Bundo - Spacer (Original Mix) [Get Physical].mp3
12A - 116 - The Weeknd - Creepin' [Hoax (BE) & INMAHEAD Remix].mp3
12A - 118 - Meera (NO) - Blomst (Original Mix) [Crib].mp3
12A - 118 - Michael Jackson - The Thriller (Lucas Moncorge Vision).mp3
12A - 119 - Pippi Ciez, Chukku - Final Chapter (Original Mix) [Madorasindahouse].mp3
12A - 119 - Softmal, LLolita - Family Affair (Original Mix) [Resurrection].mp3
12A - 120 - Da Capo - New Sun.mp3
12A - 120 - Djolee - Lady in Black (Original Mix) [Manitox].mp3
12A - 120 - Fatoumata Diawara - Nterini (Kylian Remix).mp3
12A - 120 - Kanye West - Love Lockdown (Vidojean X Oliver Loenn Afro Remix).mp3
12A - 120 - Maz - Ndaciii.mp3
12A - 120 - MoBlack, Benja, Franc Fala - Yamore.mp3
12A - 120 - MOSY - Watching My Body Move (Original Mix) [Tortuga].mp3
12A - 120 - Prince Kaybee - Higher (Chaleee Remix).mp3
12A - 120 - Shredder SA - Mfana Seshego (Original Mix) [&Maru].mp3
12A - 120 - Tato, MoBlack, VHOOR, Tuyo & FBC - Clareou (Extended Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
12A - 120 - The Weeknd, Moojo - Secret ID x Creepin' (Rivo Mashup).mp3
12A - 120 - Toto - Africa (Alex Twin Edit).mp3
12A - 120 - Victor Alc - Essamina.mp3
12A - 120 - YusMusica - Family Affair.mp3
12A - 121 - Bukeka, Ajna (BE) - Kwenze (Mosoo Remix) [Magnifik].mp3
12A - 121 - Darksidevinyl - What that thing called (Original Mix) [Lekke LLC].mp3
12A - 121 - Kosheen - Hide U (Issy x Marten Lou).mp3
12A - 121 - Regard - Ride It (FromParis Remix).mp3
12A - 121 - Sasson (FR), Bar - Bate Forte.mp3
12A - 122 - Candi Staton - Hallelujah Anyway (Larse VIP Edit).mp3
12A - 122 - Eran Hersh, Alex Twin - Ya Nana.mp3
12A - 122 - Jorja Smith - Little Things (Peace Control Remix).mp3
12A - 122 - Lana Del Rey x Bro code - Summertime Sadness x djMerlon (Chris IDH Edit).mp3
12A - 122 - Moloko - Forever More (Andrew Meller Edit).mp3
12A - 122 - Tabia, Tayllor, Joezi - Butterfly Effect (Extended) [Deep Root Tribe].mp3
12A - 123 - Emmanuel Jal, Nitefreak - Gorah (Francis Mercier Midnight Extended Mix) [Higher Ground].mp3
12A - 123 - Toto - Africa (V2 Rampa Edit).mp3
12A - 123 - Vooz Brothers - Oh Sheep (Original Mix) [REDOLENT].mp3
12A - 124 - Alex Twin, Joezi - Sweet K (Extended Mix) [Kitisuru].mp3
12A - 127 - Quentin Harris - Warning (Adam Ten & Mita Gami Re-Edit).mp3
12A - 128 - Kasabian - Call (Solomun Remix) [Columbia (Sony)].mp3
1A - 118 - Reekado Banks - Feel Different (Chris IDH Remix) [Yulunga].mp3
1A - 120 - Blue Method - Hele.mp3
1A - 120 - Bob Sinclar - World Hold On (Not From Paris Remix).mp3
1A - 120 - Digolo Phillip & Dylan-S - Dana (Foozak & Candyman Remix).mp3
1A - 120 - Drush (FR) & Oluhle x The Weeknd - Nyakalo x Shameless (Pete Dash Mushup).mp3
1A - 120 - Malive, Luiza Gogoia, Morgado - Quintal.mp3
1A - 120 - Oluwadamvic, Anghel, Prayon - Koleye (Extended Mix) [Go Deeva].mp3
1A - 121 - Bob Sinclar - World Hold On (Sasson & Soubeiran Remix).mp3
1A - 121 - Ost & Kjex, Yulia Niko - Love The Rain Days (Santiago Garcia Extended Remix) [Armada].mp3
1A - 122 - Drake & Rampa - Virgil Forever (Instrumental).mp3
1A - 122 - Eran Hersh x Kasango - Ascension.mp3
1A - 122 - Feid - Classy 101 (Maz, VXSION Extended Edit).mp3
1A - 122 - Shimza, Caiiro - Nyali.mp3
1A - 122 - Victor Alc - I Know You Know.mp3
1A - 123 - Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive (Ikerfoxx (ES) Remix).mp3
1A - 123 - James Organ, Kuuda - The Real You (Original Mix) [SHEN].mp3
1A - 123 - Jazzuelle, Kali Mija, Enrico & Carmo, Lati (BR) - Me Ama (Original Mix) [Abracadabra].mp3
1A - 124 - Lazarusman, LITERATURA - Story Of Our Lives (Original Mix) [Connected Frontline].mp3
1A - 124 - Tyla - Water (Yaacov Remix).mp3
2A - 120 - Angelos - Ages (Original Mix) [Frau Blau].mp3
2A - 120 - Black Coffee - Juju (Chaleee & Sammi Ferrer Escalation Remix).mp3
2A - 120 - Bun Xapa - La Mezcla.mp3
2A - 120 - Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey (Da Capo & Kitty Amor Extended Remix) [Defected].mp3
2A - 120 - Moori - Go Deep.mp3
2A - 120 - Okey, Orsay - Natura (Extended Mix) [Deep Root Tribe].mp3
2A - 120 - Omah Lay - Soso (Deroos Extended Remix).mp3
2A - 120 - QUENTRO & Tuna - Soro Soke.mp3
2A - 120 - Swedish House Mafia - Leave The World Behind (Vidojean X Oliver Loenn 2024 Rework).mp3
2A - 120 - Tyla - Water (Vanco Edit).mp3
2A - 120 - Vidojean x Oliver Loenn - Alameyo (Extended Mix) [Tomorrowland].mp3
2A - 121 - Jamek Ortega - Ride With Me.mp3
2A - 121 - Michael Jackson - Beat it (Shimza Remix).mp3
2A - 122 - 16BL, Colle, deroos - One Place (Extended Mix) [Brain Sugar].mp3
2A - 122 - Alex Twin - Bandido.mp3
2A - 122 - Black Coffee - Gardens Of Eden (Enoo Napa Remix).mp3
2A - 122 - Busta Rhymes - Give It 2 Me (Moon J Remix).mp3
2A - 122 - Colle' - Kupata.mp3
2A - 122 - Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey (Jack Back Extended Remix) [Defected].mp3
2A - 122 - Dj Fabio Deep - Tombua (Original Mix) [Guettoz Muzik].mp3
2A - 122 - Folamour - Voyage (Antdot Remix).mp3
2A - 122 - Ginno Mesina - This Shit Is Bananas.mp3
2A - 122 - Moon J - Know What You Want (Original Mix) [Tortuga].mp3
2A - 122 - THEUSS - Losing My Mind (Aaaron Remix) [AZZUR].mp3
2A - 123 - Asake - Basquiat (AUGUSTE Remix) [Disposable].mp3
2A - 123 - Bukeka, Ajna (BE) - Anahata (Original Mix) [Magnifik].mp3
2A - 123 - German Brigante - Karttikeya (Original Mix) [Sol Selectas].mp3
2A - 123 - John Cala - Momentum (Original Mix) [Siamese].mp3
2A - 123 - Kashovski - Bad Man (Original Mix) [Get Physical].mp3
2A - 123 - Nico de Andrea, Baron (FR), D - Prezzy - Kingston Groove (Extended Mix) [Armada].mp3
2A - 123 - Palane, Badbwoy - De Soweto (Extended Mix) [Subsonik].mp3
2A - 123 - Victor Alc - Boreal.mp3
2A - 124 - Andre Rizo, Christian Lepah - Kankane (Original Mix) [Katun].mp3
3A - 117 - Moojo, Da Capo - What U Desire (Vocal Mix).mp3
3A - 118 - Chaleee, Marco Pex - Your Hands.mp3
3A - 118 - Yamil, Rosalinda de la Espada - A Ti Nada Mas (Original Mix) [Monaberry].mp3
3A - 120 - 40D x CONDE - Meteor.mp3
3A - 120 - Animalic Drum - Mwendwa (Extended Mix) [Kitisuru].mp3
3A - 120 - Leon - Rise (Baron (FR), Darmon - Mamy Edit).mp3
3A - 120 - MOSY - However (Original Mix) [Tortuga].mp3
3A - 120 - Naika - 1 + 1 (Guapo Remix).mp3
3A - 120 - Naomi Sharon - Definition Of Love (Alex K sh Remix).mp3
3A - 120 - RISE (Ilan Edit), played by keinemusik.mp3
3A - 120 - Tyla - Truth or Dare (Vidojean x Oliver Loenn Remix).mp3
3A - 120 - Victor Alc - Sudam rica.mp3
3A - 120 - WhoMadeWho x Rampa - Tell Me Are We (Arrab Remix).mp3
3A - 121 - Arodes - Rolling.mp3
3A - 121 - Drake - One Dance (DENI Remix).mp3
3A - 122 - A.C.N. - Hekima (Original Mix) [TAU].mp3
3A - 122 - AM M , Baron, Hook N Sling... - Like That x Take You Higher (Cassablanca Edit).mp3
3A - 122 - Disclosure, Eliza Doolittle - You & Me (Rivo Remix) [UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)].mp3
3A - 122 - Drake - A Keeper (Chaleee & Sammi Ferrer Remix).mp3
3A - 122 - Gruwski - Nyami (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
3A - 122 - Kassin - Paradise.mp3
3A - 122 - Makossa & Megablast - Soy Como Soy (Arodes Remix).mp3
3A - 122 - The Weeknd - After Hours (Marcus Santoro Sunset Remix).mp3
3A - 122 - Vernis Rouge - Bande organis e (Kimotion Extended Version) [RCA Group].mp3
3A - 122 - Years & Years - Desire (Adam Trigger & Hoax (BE) Remix).mp3
3A - 123 - ANOTR, Abel Balder - Relax My Eyes (Chris Arna & Morbus Remix).mp3
3A - 123 - Bryson Tiller - Right My Wrongs (Ikerfoxx (ES) Remix).mp3
3A - 123 - Rockin Moroccin - Oldschool, Baby (Playa Edit) V2.mp3
3A - 123 - The Weeknd - Save Your Tears (Alex Wann Remix).mp3
3A - 124 - Arodes - Burning Like This (Original Mix) [Unreleased].mp3
3A - 124 - Capoon - All Of My Heart (Original Mix) [Human By Default].mp3
3A - 124 - Capoon, Vicky Kroon - Yesterday (Original Mix).mp3
3B - 118 - &friends, Bayanni - Ta Ta Ta (Extended) [TH3RD BRAIN].mp3
3B - 124 - The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Aahil Edit).mp3
4A - 119 - Kintar - End Emotions (Extended Mix) [Armada].mp3
4A - 120 - &friends, Phina Asa - This Is What It Feels Like (Atmos Blaq Extended Remix) [Armada].mp3
4A - 120 - Alex Wann, Soubeiran, Nes Mburu - N'Gele.mp3
4A - 120 - Berin - Exotica (Original Mix) [Sunset Gathering].mp3
4A - 120 - Lazarusman, Liva K, atsou - 100 Horses (Original Mix) [Madorasindahouse].mp3
4A - 120 - Moh Maya - Alchemist (Original Mix) [Human By Default].mp3
4A - 120 - Nelly Furtado - Say it Right (Soubeiran Remix).mp3
4A - 120 - Nico Morano, MeWhy - Bingo (DSF Remix) [Ontourage].mp3
4A - 120 - Omah Lay - Holy Ghost (Marino Canal & Santiago Garcia Remix).mp3
4A - 120 - Soubeiran - Mas Que Nada.mp3
4A - 120 - Vidojean X Oliver Loenn - More Than You Know (2024 Rework).mp3
4A - 121 - Dorian Craft - Kilamba (Oxia Remix) [Diversions].mp3
4A - 121 - Dorian Craft, Baron (FR) - Paradigm (Original Mix) [Human By Default].mp3
4A - 121 - Enzo Siffredi, FNX OMAR & BAQABO - Kiswahili (FNX Omar's Mix) [Wired].mp3
4A - 121 - Madonna - Rain (Urmet K Edit 2023).mp3
4A - 121 - Mr. Moudz - Gana (Original Mix) [Go Deeva].mp3
4A - 121 - Playmen, Valeron, Klavdia - Touch Me (Extended Version) [Panik].mp3
4A - 121 - Raffa Guido - Famax (Jerak Remix).mp3
4A - 121 - Touzani, Sofiya Nzau - Ouria Deka (West & Hill Remix) [House Music With Love].mp3
4A - 122 - Adriatique, Eynka - Beyond Us (Extended Hatshepsut Version - Alex Wann Remix) [Cercle].mp3
4A - 122 - Alex Wann & Paul Kalkbrenner - Haze x Sky and Sand (TWINS Edit).mp3
4A - 122 - Alex Wann - Haze (Michel 'On A Dream' Edit).mp3
4A - 122 - Alex Wann vs Pink - What about Haze (Quma Edit).mp3
4A - 122 - Andrea Oliva, Moeaike, Arodes - Stronger Than Before (Original Mix) [Unreleased].mp3
4A - 122 - Armin van Buuren - In And Out Of Love (Rivo Remix) Demo.mp3
4A - 122 - Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Alex Wann Edit).mp3
4A - 122 - Clavi Binos, Xolani, Ivy Lesson, Mcebisi - Ngonyama yamaZulu (DSF Remix) [Afro Fusion].mp3
4A - 122 - Coll - Breathe.mp3
4A - 122 - Drake & Jorja Smith - Get It Together (Antdot & VXSION Revisit Intro Mix).mp3
4A - 122 - Drake - Slime You Out (Samson Remix).mp3
4A - 122 - Franky Wah, Robin M - Intina (Original Mix) [SHEN].mp3
4A - 122 - Franky Wah, Robin M - Maasai (Original Mix) [SHEN].mp3
4A - 122 - Nico Morano, MeWhy - Everything I Own (Gorje Hewek Remix) [Ontourage].mp3
4A - 122 - REMIND - Look Around You (Moojo Remix).mp3
4A - 122 - Yamil - Kale Kale (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
4A - 123 - Akon - Smack That (&friends Remix).mp3
4A - 123 - Alexey Union, Alar - Im Going Big (Original Mix) [TalkTalk].mp3
4A - 123 - Axwell & Ingrosso - More Than You Know (Mont Rouge Remix) [UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)].mp3
4A - 123 - Coldplay - Viva La Vida (Choujaa & Epsylon Remix).mp3
4A - 123 - Idd Aziz, Darksidevinyl - Embe (Original Mix) [Lekke LLC].mp3
4A - 123 - Memo Rex, PALOMA. - Muladhara (Original Mix) [Sol Selectas].mp3
4A - 124 - Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane (Raphael Palacci Extended Mix).mp3
4A - 124 - Empire Of The Sun - Walking on a Dream (VXSION Edit).mp3
4A - 125 - Carlita - Time (Original Mix) [Counter].mp3
4A - 125 - Empire Of The Sun - Walking on a Dream (Kimotion x Amour Propre Remix).mp3
4A - 125 - Meloko, Mozambo - Ubatuba.mp3
4A - 125 - Rampa - Les Gout (Tayllor Edit).mp3
5A - 117 - Peggy Gou, Lenny Kravitz - I Believe in love again (Darren x Hoodia Remix).mp3
5A - 118 - Vidojean X Oliver Loenn X Alesso - Depeche X If I Lose Myself (Mashup).mp3
5A - 119 - Yacine Dessouki, NDRK - You (Original Mix) [LSF21+].mp3
5A - 120 - Bill Withers - Who Is He (Victhor Remix).mp3
5A - 120 - Bun Xapa - Yeke Yeke (Original Mix) [Calamar].mp3
5A - 120 - Chris IDH - Sunray.mp3
5A - 120 - COOLIO - Gangsta Paradise (Moojo Edit).mp3
5A - 120 - Da Africa Deep - Feel The Love (Original Mix) [One People].mp3
5A - 120 - Da Africa Deep, Mici - Me And You (Extended Mix) [One People].mp3
5A - 120 - Demay - Now That We Found Love (Original Mix) [Calamar].mp3
5A - 120 - G.Zamora, Markuss - Marina (Original Mix) [Personal Belongings].mp3
5A - 120 - Malive, Billy Otto - Reduto (Original Mix) [Diynamic].mp3
5A - 120 - Monkey Safari - Remedy (Original Mix) [Good Vibes From Paradise].mp3
5A - 120 - MOSY - If You Want Me To Stay (Uh Ooh) (Extended Version).mp3
5A - 120 - Naomi Sharon - Another Life (Emre K. Remix).mp3
5A - 120 - Naomi Sharon - Another Life (TwoNotty Edit).mp3
5A - 120 - Naomi Sharon - Another Life (Urmet K Remix).mp3
5A - 120 - Nico Morano, Iron Mayhem - 1979 (Nico Morano Extended Rework) [LIVANA MUSIC].mp3
5A - 120 - Plixis - Coming Back.mp3
5A - 120 - Rihanna - Needed Me (Suite 52 x Bondo Remix).mp3
5A - 120 - Roque, Nontu X - Visions Of Love (Enoo Napa Remix) [DeepHouse].mp3
5A - 120 - SAM-A - Zurimars (Original Mix) [Immortal Bass].mp3
5A - 120 - Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger (Ahmed Bench Remix).mp3
5A - 120 - The Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough (Ikerfoxx & Ash Remix).mp3
5A - 120 - The Policy - Maashaven (Dennis Louvra Remix).mp3
5A - 120 - Yamil - You Never Alone (Original Mix) [Pieces of Life].mp3
5A - 121 - &Me - Out Of My Head.mp3
5A - 121 - AlphaBeta - Lullaby (Original Mix) [QulaqAs].mp3
5A - 121 - Bun Xapa, Moojo - Tokyo.mp3
5A - 121 - Coco, Mole, Nitefreak - Savior (Extended) [Deep Root Tribe].mp3
5A - 121 - Gabsy, Ransac - Tarzn (Original Mix) [Wired].mp3
5A - 121 - Gui Boratto - D jeuner Sur L'Herbe (Antdot & Bakka BR Remix Gui Boratto Edit) [Zatar].mp3
5A - 121 - Gui Boratto - D jeuner Sur L'Herbe (Antdot & Bakka BR Remix) [Zatar].mp3
5A - 121 - Jon.K - Contigo (Original Mix) [Somatique].mp3
5A - 121 - Mass?h, Adam Port - All I Got.mp3
5A - 121 - Michael Ritter - Always Love (Original Mix) [AZZUR].mp3
5A - 121 - Moojo - Lisboa.mp3
5A - 121 - SAMM (BE) - TROY.mp3
5A - 121 - Starving Yet Full, Caiiro, Moojo - NGWINO (Original Mix) [Calamar].mp3
5A - 122 - Joezi, Cesaar - Black Sand (Original Mix) [Wired].mp3
5A - 122 - &ME vs. Bad Bunny - Garden Porto Bonito (Calussa Edit).mp3
5A - 122 - Alex Wann - Mayne.mp3
5A - 122 - Coco, Urmet K - Look Up My Baby (Alex Twin Remix) [Yulunga].mp3
5A - 122 - Darque - April (Original Mix) [Kunye].mp3
5A - 122 - ID - Falling Back (Chalee Remix).mp3
5A - 122 - Idd Aziz, KingDonna, Miishu - Ringa (Original Mix) [Sondela].mp3
5A - 122 - Idd Aziz, Savage & SHe , Dean Walker - Dakar (Extended mix) [Handz Of Time].mp3
5A - 122 - Jordan John - Magic (Instrumental) [One Tribe].mp3
5A - 122 - Maglia - U BE MINE (Original Mix) [Anemos Dance].mp3
5A - 122 - Marasi - Africa.mp3
5A - 122 - Maxic - Desert Rose (Original Mix) [BlackSea].mp3
5A - 122 - Meloko, Selim Sivade, Utli, Aemz - Don't Stop (Gianni Romano, Emanuele Esposito, Aura Remix) [Madorasindahouse].mp3
5A - 122 - Michael Jackson x Renate, Presi On, Augusto Yepes - Thriller x Mawu (Yigit&Mert Edit).mp3
5A - 122 - Moojo - Meditation.mp3
5A - 122 - NIIXII - Me and You (DSF Remix) [Mindgame].mp3
5A - 122 - Rockin Moroccin - Always On Time (Extended Mix) [Go Deeva].mp3
5A - 122 - Sounds Of Rituals & Augusto Yepes - Seva In The Deep (Darmon Edit).mp3
5A - 122 - Starving Yet Full, MOSY - On My Mind (Original Mix) [Tortuga].mp3
5A - 122 - Tayllor - Into You (Bootleg).mp3
5A - 123 - Alex Kosh - I Told You (Original Mix) [Sudam].mp3
5A - 123 - DJ G, Juliet Mendoza - Elevate (Dr Feel Remix) [SP].mp3
5A - 123 - Dorian Craft, Chambord - Lost in the Night (Sis Remix) [Diversions].mp3
5A - 123 - Drake - Finesse (Antdot Remix).mp3
5A - 123 - DSF - Not Like You (Extended Mix) [My Other Side of the Moon].mp3
5A - 123 - Emanuele Esposito, Gianni Romano, Helen Tesfazghi - It's Not Right (Moojo Remix) [Ulu].mp3
5A - 123 - Francis Mercier, Boukman Eksperyans - Imamou (Original Mix) [Deep Root Tribe].mp3
5A - 123 - Jazzy, Jamie Jones - We Groovin (Sparrow & Barbossa Remix) [Helix].mp3
5A - 123 - Maz - Emorio^.mp3
5A - 123 - Maz(BR), VXSION x ABBA - Amana x SOS (Dario Hessabi Edit).mp3
5A - 123 - Stromae - Alors Fraoula (Darmon Edit).mp3
5A - 124 - Johannes Brecht - Arp Piano (Club Version) [Diynamic].mp3
5A - 124 - Malik Taj - Contigo.mp3
5A - 124 - Marten Lou - Radiohead 4.0.mp3
5A - 124 - Rufus Du Sol - New Sky (Sathler Remix).mp3
5A - 125 - Zac, Lazarusman, Hugo Cantarra - Validate Yourself (Extended Mix) [Zerothree].mp3
5B - 120 - WhoMadeWho, RY X - Love Will Save Me (Marten Lou Remix) [The Moment].mp3
5B - 122 - Emanuel Satie, Tim Engelhardt, Maga, Sean Doron - Resilience (Andhim Extended Remix) [Scenarios].mp3
6A - 115 - Bobby Caldwell - Do 4 Love (Victhor Remix).mp3
6A - 118 - Muzari - Saka (Original Mix) [Open Bar].mp3
6A - 118 - Rhodes, CamelPhat - Home (Arabic Piano Remix) [Broke].mp3
6A - 119 - Kimotion X Luch - You You You.mp3
6A - 120 - &friends, Joseph (CH) - Jackie Brown.mp3
6A - 120 - Ariano Kina - Love With You (Original Mix) [Made in Kin ].mp3
6A - 120 - Aytiwan & Kaudron - Es Vedra (Chaleee Remix).mp3
6A - 120 - Bun Xapa - Masego fijnal.mp3
6A - 120 - Dennis Ferrer, Danil Wright, Kasango - Church Lady (Extended Mix) [King Street].mp3
6A - 120 - Disalazar - Medusa (Dr Feel Extended Remix) [Polyptych].mp3
6A - 120 - Forrest, &friends, Del Arte - Everyday (Original Mix) [Hidden Hands].mp3
6A - 120 - Gruwski - Amaya (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
6A - 120 - Gruwski - Maremu (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
6A - 120 - Guapo, Peaty - 6PM In Casablanca.mp3
6A - 120 - Hanna Hais, Leo Guardo, GuguPash - Angeke (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
6A - 120 - Jerome Sydor - Ano Derirwo (Original Mix) [Highlimit].mp3
6A - 120 - Minoas Cirillo, ReiRei - Cairo (Extended Mix) [Night Mayors].mp3
6A - 120 - Nico Morano, MeWhy - 100 Miles (Re.you Remix) [Ontourage].mp3
6A - 120 - OVEOUS, QVLN - Queimar (GUAPO (AO) Remix) [Hyper Soul].mp3
6A - 120 - Pablo Fierro, Vanco, Una Rams - WELE WELE (Original Mix) [WE'RE HERE].mp3
6A - 120 - QARAQOOM - Oasis (Original Mix) [QARAQOOM].mp3
6A - 120 - RBOR - Isoma.mp3
6A - 120 - Rufus Du Sol - Innerbloom (Imad & Dennis Louvra Remix).mp3
6A - 120 - Samm & Ajna - By my side.mp3
6A - 120 - Soulroots, Nuzu Deep - Sipho (West & Hill Club Version) V2.mp3
6A - 120 - Zerb, Sofiya Nzau - Mwaki (&friends Remix Extended) [TH3RD BRAIN].mp3
6A - 121 - Mita Gami - Danger Vocals.mp3
6A - 121 - Rhodes, CamelPhat - Home (Samm & Ajna Remix) [Broke].mp3
6A - 122 - &lez - The Rhythm Of Dancing (Extended Mix) [SIZE].mp3
6A - 122 - Bantwanas, Pops Mohamed, Sobantwana - Kora (Extended Mix) [Anjunadeep].mp3
6A - 122 - Bun Xapa - Thibang Thibang.mp3
6A - 122 - G rkem ay - Solo (Original Mix) [Madorasindahouse].mp3
6A - 122 - Haldo - We Danzhe (Original Mix) [Ocha Mzansi].mp3
6A - 122 - Hyenah, DJ Tira, Nitefreak, Luke Ntombela - Ezizweni (Nitefreak Remix) [Sondela].mp3
6A - 122 - Illinois, Darksidevinyl - Lola's Theme (Original Mix) [Lekke LLC].mp3
6A - 122 - KEENE, Arabic Piano - All Night.mp3
6A - 122 - LevyM - Champagne.mp3
6A - 122 - LevyM - Heartache.mp3
6A - 122 - LevyM, Kash Neeve - Heartache (Extended Mix) [Sondela Recordings Ltd].mp3
6A - 122 - Madonna - Music (Alex Twin Rework).mp3
6A - 122 - Moh Maya - El Gallo Dos (Original Mix) [Human By Default].mp3
6A - 122 - Nitefreak, laureno - Asara.mp3
6A - 122 - PEATY - Bamako (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
6A - 122 - Phonique, Ayla (BR) - To Move On (Phonique Remix) [Zatar].mp3
6A - 122 - RY X - Howling (Legare Remix).mp3
6A - 122 - SINHEDA, TwoForAll, Nusty - Ibe Sala (Original Mix) [Wired].mp3
6A - 122 - Soldera, Cazt, Dandara Manoela - Minha Prece Remix (Extended Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
6A - 122 - Tato - Pelo meu amor.mp3
6A - 122 - Tripolism - Ras In France (Extended Mix) [Ultra].mp3
6A - 122 - William Rizz - Magical (Original Mix) [Deep In Your Soul].mp3
6A - 123 - Carlos Torre, Torre & Lords - El Tambor (Original Mix) [Made In Miami].mp3
6A - 123 - Dougwav - Signals.mp3
6A - 123 - Enamour, Samanta Liza - Slip Away (Tim Engelhardt & Sean Doron Remix) [LIFEFORMS].mp3
6A - 123 - Nico Morano, MeWhy - One Too Many Times (Fairplay Remix) [Ontourage].mp3
6A - 123 - The Drifter, Kadosh (IL) - Jakarta (Night Version) [Feines Tier].mp3
6A - 123 - Tommy Farrow - Let's Just (Arodes Remix) [Stress].mp3
6A - 123 - Victor Alc - Shared Love.mp3
6A - 123 - XANDL - Wimbo (Original Mix) [Maneki Neko].mp3
6A - 123 - York, Eran Hersh, Solr - Wema (Extended Mix) [Green Room].mp3
6A - 124 - Abel Ray, Kashovski x Underworld - Sick Boy Born Slippy.mp3
6A - 124 - Coll - Something to Believe.mp3
6A - 124 - Kashovski - Pull Out The Fire.mp3
6A - 124 - Meera (NO) - No Space (Original Mix) [Crib].mp3
6A - 124 - Mita Gami - All By Myself.mp3
6A - 124 - Moojo - I Want Your Soul.mp3
6A - 124 - Tayllor - Zurdo (Original mix) [IZIKI].mp3
6A - 125 - Silyvi, Two Strong - Quando Fui A Benguela (Original Mix) [NuLu].mp3
6A - 126 - Bulat - Karimu (The Organism Remix) [Organic Tunes].mp3
6A - 126 - Lazarusman, AMEME, Cameron - Never (Extended Mix) [REALM].mp3
6B - 119 - Chambord X MJ - Mamentia (Don't Stop) (Abel Ray Edit).mp3
7A - 118 - The Weeknd - Earned It (DUMAA Edit).mp3
7A - 120 - Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Choujaa Remix).mp3
7A - 120 - Ajna - Move (V2 DEMO).mp3
7A - 120 - Ajna, Samm vs Whitney Houston - Unbreak my Union (Quma Edit).mp3
7A - 120 - Alessa Khin - Asita (Original Mix) [Afromatic Lab.].mp3
7A - 120 - Arodes & Fahlberg - She Asked Me To Dance.mp3
7A - 120 - Avangart Tabldot - Ella.mp3
7A - 120 - Choujaa - Nyu Bi Woni.mp3
7A - 120 - Coco, Urmet K - Look Up My Baby (Chris IDH Remix) [Yulunga].mp3
7A - 120 - Drake - Get It Together (Samson Remix).mp3
7A - 120 - Emanuel Satie, Maga - Flores (Meera (NO) Remix) [Scenarios].mp3
7A - 120 - Fahlberg, Jamek Ortega - Tirana Nights (Original Mix) [Madorasindahouse].mp3
7A - 120 - Konvex (FR), L'Amorosso - Back to Life (Original Mix) [AZZUR].mp3
7A - 120 - Mayas - Call Me (Chaleee Remix).mp3
7A - 120 - RBOR - Take Me Deep (Original Mix) [Sunset Gathering].mp3
7A - 120 - Samm (BE) - Massako (Original Mix) [Magnifik].mp3
7A - 120 - Samm - Paradise.mp3
7A - 121 - Ajna (BE), Samm (BE) - Secundo (Original Mix) [Magnifik].mp3
7A - 121 - Bakayan - Breath.mp3
7A - 121 - DJ Merlon - Room Temperature.mp3
7A - 122 - 1995_Hallelujah (Sachaaa & Lazare Edit).mp3
7A - 122 - Alex Twin, Joezi - Mohoya (Extended Mix) [Kitisuru].mp3
7A - 122 - David Hopperman, Natema - Zulu (Joezi Remix) [TRANSA].mp3
7A - 122 - Emmanuel Jal, KEENE, Angelos - Bud h (Djeff Remix) [Madorasindahouse].mp3
7A - 122 - Joezi - Amathole (Alex Twin Remix).mp3
7A - 122 - Konvex (FR) - Ma Douce (Atsou Remix) [AZZUR].mp3
7A - 122 - Lizwi, Nariz (IL), Joezi - Omama (Original Mix) [Wired].mp3
7A - 122 - Muzari - Iphutha Lami (Chaleee Remix).mp3
7A - 122 - Notre Dame - Ritmo del Mundo.mp3
7A - 122 - REMIND - 1995 (Original Mix) [Calamar].mp3
7A - 122 - Sasson (FR), Mont Rouge - War Cry (Original Mix) [WE'RE HERE].mp3
7A - 122 - Tayllor - Baylame.mp3
7A - 122 - VXSION - Ouakam (Extended Mix) [Endless Music (BR)].mp3
7A - 123 - Ahmed Spins - Anchor Point (Am m 's Voodoo Drums Edit).mp3
7A - 123 - Ben Westbeech, Johannes Brecht - Believer (Club Version) [Diynamic].mp3
7A - 123 - Manybeat - The Gypsy Woman (Original Mix) [Tortuga].mp3
7A - 123 - Safar (FR) - Love Parade (Original Mix) [Sol Selectas].mp3
7A - 123 - Samm (BE), Maxi Meraki - Open Your Eyes (Extended Mix).mp3
7A - 123 - Zouk Machine - Maldon (Rampa Edit).mp3
7A - 124 - Ayala (IT) - Kong (Original Mix) [Multinotes].mp3
7A - 124 - Badbwoy - Loving You (Extended Mix) [Subsonik].mp3
7A - 124 - Coco, Urmet K - Look Up My Baby (DSF Remix) [Yulunga].mp3
7A - 124 - Darque, Thandi Draai - Yonke (Rodriguez Jr. Remix) [Kunye].mp3
7A - 124 - Marasi - Opera (Original Mix) [Madorasindahouse].mp3
7A - 125 - Lyves, Joseph Ashworth - Signs (Extended Mix) [Sound of Outside].mp3
7A - 126 - Chemical Surf - Mercy (Extended Mix) [Get Physical].mp3
7B - 121 - Sin ad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U (Yulia Niko Edit).mp3
7B - 122 - Spencer Brown, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Wilt Claybourne - Awu Wemadoda (&friends Mix) [diviine].mp3
8A - 118 - Jaquet - Soy Candela.mp3
8A - 118 - Kimotion - Right Here Right Now (Original Mix) [Techno And Chill].mp3
8A - 120 - Anza, LITCHI, Atlantis (ofc) - Di Bunja (Original Mix) [Sol Selectas].mp3
8A - 120 - Asif Shmueli - HUGS.mp3
8A - 120 - Burak Yeter, Danelle Sandoval, Kimotion - Tuesday (Kimotion Remix) [Connection].mp3
8A - 120 - De Noko, Prinz Tello - Mosadi Wa Mosotho (Original Afrohouse Mix) [iM Electronica].mp3
8A - 120 - Dua Lipa - Houdini X Chris IDH - Falling For Your Lies (Dino M Edit).mp3
8A - 120 - Emanuele Esposito, Gianni Romano, Tim Schou - Possibilities & Harmonies (Original Mix) [Ulu].mp3
8A - 120 - Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Moojo & Demaya Edit).mp3
8A - 120 - HUGEL, Alex Wann - Forever In My Mind.mp3
8A - 120 - Jonny Miller - Somewhere (Chaleee Oblivion Mix).mp3
8A - 120 - Keinemusik - Muye (Enoo Napa Remix).mp3
8A - 120 - Kiko Navarro, Hugo Navarro - Una Mattina (Original Mix) [Afroterraneo].mp3
8A - 120 - Kris Davis - Forever Alone.mp3
8A - 120 - M.E.M.O. - Loca (Extended Version) [Mobilee].mp3
8A - 120 - Maz, Antdot - Run.mp3
8A - 120 - Meloko, LKF Project, Selim Sivade - Simple Child (Illusory Remix) [AZZUR].mp3
8A - 120 - Moojo - Oui.mp3
8A - 120 - Nico Morano, MeWhy - Juno Love (Santiago Garcia Remix) [Ontourage].mp3
8A - 120 - Omary, Saint Evo - El Amal.mp3
8A - 120 - Peaty x Peace Control - Echoes (Remix).mp3
8A - 120 - P DE & Dangel Twins - Dorma.mp3
8A - 120 - REMIND, Moojo, Loving - It's Alright.mp3
8A - 120 - Rihanna - Stay (Moojo Remix).mp3
8A - 120 - Robin M - Tu Sawa (Original Mix) [SHEN].mp3
8A - 120 - Robin M, Nyabuto - Tu Sawa (Just Fine) [SHEN].mp3
8A - 120 - Victor Alc - Hanging Tree.mp3
8A - 120 - YAROKI - CoD 34 (Original Mix) [QulaqAs].mp3
8A - 121 - Hot Natured, Ali Love - Benediction (Steve Amoroso Edit).mp3
8A - 121 - KIDY - African Odyssey (Original Mix) [QulaqAs].mp3
8A - 121 - Konvex (FR), Yumho - Never Without Us (Dr Feel Remix Azzur Retouch) [AZZUR].mp3
8A - 121 - Moojo & Keinenmusic - Cezar Nmina (James Layoun Remix).mp3
8A - 121 - Tie"sto - Drifting (Maxi Meraki Remix).mp3
8A - 121 - Victor Alc - Neutral Event.mp3
8A - 122 - &ME, Black Coffee - The Rapture Pt. III + Greatest Day (Bona Fide's Mashup).mp3
8A - 122 - Ahoona - To The Moon.mp3
8A - 122 - Angel Sanchez, OliO, Frede, WALTHER, Iyami Aje - Night Sky (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
8A - 122 - Anotr, Abel - Relax My Eyes (Sammi Ferrer & Chaleee Remix).mp3
8A - 122 - BRUNN - Detroit (Extended Mix) [ACRBTC].mp3
8A - 122 - Daomega - Soul Dance (Original Mix) [Lekke LLC].mp3
8A - 122 - Dorian Craft, Tosz - Over the Falls (Clemente Remix) [Diversions].mp3
8A - 122 - Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now (Soubeiran Remix).mp3
8A - 122 - Joyia, MAXI MERAKI - Remember (Extended Mix) [Ultra].mp3
8A - 122 - Kitty Amor, SeeMeNot - Together, Pt. II (The Amor Effect Dub) [Defected].mp3
8A - 122 - Komashov - Light Vs Darkness.mp3
8A - 122 - Korus, Blanka Mazimela, Sobantwana - Gcwanini (Samantha Loveridge Extended Remix) [Get Physical].mp3
8A - 122 - MEG & NERAK - Mindfields (Original Mix) [Wired].mp3
8A - 122 - Mendo - Rising Sun (I Got 5 On It) (Alex Twin Edit).mp3
8A - 122 - Moojo - Ms. Jackson.mp3
8A - 122 - Pysh, Lazarusman, Bondar - Say Yes (Doctor Dru Remix) [Atmosphere].mp3
8A - 122 - Re.you, Dorian Craft - Magic Carpet (Original Mix) [AZZUR].mp3
8A - 122 - Yamil, Thimble, Pieces Of Life - Sun Shine (Original Mix) [Pieces of Life].mp3
8A - 123 - &ME & Time - Not Alone (Dorian Craft Edit).mp3
8A - 123 - Andy Bros - Honey (Original Mix) [Monaberry].mp3
8A - 123 - Janet Jackson - Together Again (Rampa Edit).mp3
8A - 123 - Planet Funk - Chase The Sun (TATO Edit).mp3
8A - 123 - Slivio Luz, Keinemusik - Euphomnia Salalina (Liva K Edit) (Rework Remade Breakstorm).mp3
8A - 123 - Softmal, LLolita - Out Of Touch (Original Mix) [Resurrection].mp3
8A - 123 - Victor Alc - Alma.mp3
8A - 124 - Arodes & Martim Rola - Nightcall.mp3
8A - 124 - Beach House - Lemon Glow (Marten Lou Remix).mp3
8A - 124 - Till Von Sein - Sundowna Nation Of (Dyed Soundorom and Shonky Remix - Facundo Mohrr Edit).mp3
8A - 125 - Chromatics - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Hugo Cantarra & Auguste Remix).mp3
8A - 125 - ID - Girls Just Want To Have Fun (Auguste & Hugo Cantarra Remix).mp3
8A - 127 - Lil Yachty - Ive Officially Lost Vision (Tim Engelhardt Edit).mp3
8B - 120 - Cher - Believe (Super Flu Remix).mp3
8B - 122 - Xinobi - Infinite City (Extended Mix) [Discotexas].mp3
9A - 116 - MoBlack, Santiago Garcia - Good Energy.mp3
9A - 117 - DTale, Badbox, Leo Gira - Crazy (Extended Mix) [Armada].mp3
9A - 118 - Billie Eilish, Khalid - Lovely (Drega Remix).mp3
9A - 118 - Cesaria Evora - Petit Pays (Notre Dame Rework).mp3
9A - 118 - Chambord, Jaguar Jaguar - Born In Blue (Original Mix) [VOD].mp3
9A - 118 - Deer Jade - Jukurpa (Extended Mix) [Kompakt].mp3
9A - 119 - Samm & Maxi Meraki - Everybody Get Up.mp3
9A - 120 - Anja (BE) - Astro.mp3
9A - 120 - Chaleee, Yoliswa - Rise Up.mp3
9A - 120 - Craig David - 7 Days (Alex Wann X Sparrow & Barbossa Remix).mp3
9A - 120 - Djeff, 40D - Indie Genius Monks (Original Mix) [Kazukuta].mp3
9A - 120 - Gruwski - Kaliteyo (Original Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
9A - 120 - ID - Shiver (Jaquet Remix).mp3
9A - 120 - Kaudron - Wonderful World (Enoo Napa Remix) [Deep In Your Soul].mp3
9A - 120 - Lumidee - I'll Never Leave (Sinto & Ikerfoxx Remix).mp3
9A - 120 - Masters At Work - Work (Chus Private Edit).mp3
9A - 120 - Missio (ARG) - I Don't Need You (Original Mix) [Human By Default].mp3
9A - 120 - Moeaike - Bo Bom.mp3
9A - 120 - Moon Rocket - Just Me & You (Original Mix) [Moon Rocket].mp3
9A - 120 - Moritz (UK) - Taka Taka (Original Mix) [Renaissance].mp3
9A - 120 - Picca & Mars - Nyam (RIEL Remix) [Inward].mp3
9A - 120 - Pink Floyd - Welcome To The Machine (Kandar Rework).mp3
9A - 120 - RY X - Salt (Oysher Remix).mp3
9A - 120 - Tayllor - Home.mp3
9A - 120 - Tayllor - My neck My back.mp3
9A - 120 - Touzani - Dhermi (Extended Mix) [MoBlack].mp3
9A - 121 - Ayala (IT), Nes Mburu - Gathoni (West & Hill Remix) [Pieces of Life].mp3
9A - 121 - Badbwoy x Hoodia - Veneno.mp3
9A - 121 - Bun Xapa - Full Tank.mp3
9A - 121 - Garden City Movement - Untouchable (Mita Gami Edit).mp3
9A - 121 - JEWELS, Kenza, LE YORA - Next To Me (Antdot Remix) [Ascension Label].mp3
9A - 122 - MOSY - Trying (Original Mix) [Tortuga].mp3
9A - 122 - Alex Twin - Together (Vocal Mix).mp3
9A - 122 - Atmos Blaq, Chopstar - Dream Keys (Original Mix) [Sondela].mp3
9A - 122 - Chris Arna - Drowning (Original Mix) [Ulu].mp3
9A - 122 - D-Note - Shed My Skin (Elias Kazais Remix).mp3
9A - 122 - Empire of the sun - We Are the People (ODARA [BE] Remix).mp3
9A - 122 - Fahlberg - A Heart To Share (Original Mix) [No One Around].mp3
9A - 122 - KANYE WEST - FATHER STRETCH (CS REMIX).mp3
9A - 122 - Merlin, WITH U - How Deep Is Your Love (Extended Mix) [Kontor].mp3
9A - 122 - Mont Rouge (CH) - Tamale.mp3
9A - 122 - Robert Owens, Oscar P - Thank You (Enoo Napa Mix (Remastered)) [Open Bar].mp3
9A - 123 - Bun Xapa - Tel Aviv.mp3
9A - 123 - Caiiro, Moojo - Here We Are.mp3
9A - 123 - Caiiro, Moojo, Szon - I Want You (Original Mix) [Calamar].mp3
9A - 123 - Luchii - Vertebrea (SOMMA Remix).mp3
9A - 123 - Rui Da Silva - Touch Me (Peace Control Remix).mp3
9A - 123 - Super Flu - Love Song.mp3
9A - 123 - Super Flu - Lovesong (Original Mix) [Ritter Butzke].mp3
9A - 124 - Caiiro - Touch Me (The Akan Darmon Edit).mp3
9A - 124 - Coll - Thoughts.mp3
9A - 124 - Maori - Fusion World (Extended Mix) [REALM].mp3
9A - 124 - Seal - Crazy (Urmet K Edit).mp3
9A - 126 - Kiko Franco - Day N Night (Extended Version).mp3

From book called "A LAND UNKNOWN: Hell's Dominion" by B.W. Melvin (Bryan Melvin)
EXCERPT 1:
As He [Jesus] was speaking to me, these thoughts entered my mind: “It is appointed once for a man to die. When it is not that time, returning is an option decided. Children were raised; others were raised, as it was not their appointed hour, but mine. God is a God of the living and not the dead. When you arrive, say two words at that particular point of overwhelming and they are: My Name in your tongue and my Title.” At the end of these words, He reached into His robe and withdrew keys of many odd shapes and design, all bound by a connecting brass rung. Taking one key from the ring, he turned toward a door that appeared like a wall of mist that lay off to His left-hand side. As He inserted this key into the doorway that was arched like a gate, the mist parted, unrolling as a scroll, exposing a greenish-black narrow hole. In this hole there appeared a tunnel that led neither down, up, sideways, this way, or that. It was just there: a vortex.
EXCERPT 2:
The creature before me had a vile appearance. It stood about fourfeet-eight inches tall and had somewhat human features. Its skin color was dark yellowish-green with a moldy texture. Its skin appeared reptilian/saurian like. It had human raptor-like feet and a short chunky tail. Its teeth resembled those of a shark. Its breath was so foul that the very atmosphere surrounding it was like heat waves off of sun-drenched pavement on a hot summer day. Its steamy breath distorted its round human-like reptilian face and gave it an appearance of having many eyes; yet, it had two or maybe three at the most. With its lizard-like arms it tried to grab me in an evil embrace of welcome. All I could do was repeat a Name and a Title, which caused it to retreat a short distance away. I felt a presence behind me, but I was too afraid to turn my gaze from the creature to look. This small foul smelling ogre’s eyes kept darting at something in back of me that was emitting a blue purplish hue. The ghoul just grinned and muttered out loud. I stood facing this murmuring hissing creature. Gesturing with its hands and jabbering gibberish mixed with a few words of English, this ghastly being appeared to be attempting to speak to me like a foreigner trying to explain directions to a tourist with a limited vocabulary in which to converse. I was the tourist. It was difficult to understand. This beast seemed to be saying in a deep raspy guttural tone of broken English mixed with gibberish I did not understand and said, “Come follow me, (gerrr); I’ll show you half of the Kingdom. (hara-is) Come follow me (hisss) and have (errr) half of the Kingdom. (Alla ohst) Come (Sur-grrr) follow me through the veil; a road out, to, from, above, lies beyond (hesee). It’s been granted to thee to see, (grr-eko) follow me (ahka)” This disgusting foul smelling saurian brute walked with a shuffling manner towards the skyline, which was bathed orange-red by sunset, motioning for me to follow. Away from the house on the hill, away from the apparitions inside its walls, it walked. I followed continuously speaking a Name and Title as fast as I could without cease. Coming to what appeared to be the end of the horizon, the creature reached forth and parted the skyline as one would a curtain or veil. It walked through the torn hole bidding me to follow. I walked through this jagged frayed crack in the skyline and gazed upon a land unknown and best forgotten that was waiting on the other side, beckoning to be seen. Then it dawned on me where I was: the fiery pit, hell’s deep hole.
EXCERPT 3:
I followed the rank creature and immediately emerged on the other side of the horizon. A wide, dirty, flat, barren expanse of land gently sloped downward, betraying an endless circular spiral of misery. On the left side of the coiled grade were rows and rows of cubes with more cubes columned high, forming a wall of ten-by-ten foot partitions mirroring the events displayed inside. Each cube was stacked six high, marring each ascending and descending spiraling level’s wall like a dirty mirror. The wide expanse was a road. Strange entities were traveling on it. This wide dusty road ended at a circular void, highlighting the center of this hellish domain. The cubes appeared encompassed by thin smoke-tinted, gelatinlike walls. Each cube appeared to be about ten feet by ten feet square. You could see into these but not out of them. Within every chamber resided an individual person, trapped, unable to escape as I had.
Looking through the torn wall of the cube I had just stepped out of, the house and tree within were hauntingly calling my name to return. Perplexed, I stepped back for another glance at this cubicle. I was surprised that it was so small. Inside it had seemed so large! Turning, I saw the lizard-like being a few feet from me, reaching its ugly, greenish-yellow arms as if to drag me away to a desperate fate. Boxer style, I blocked the attempt. This fiend stepped back, grinning ear to ear. This beast began hissing and making strange murmurs that sounded as if it were trying to say something. It rocked back and forth while gesturing with its hands like it was in a hurry to go someplace. The creature’s mutterings became loud within my ears, as if one were turning up the volume on a buzzing amp. I became dizzy. My sight was briefly distorted. Then, in a flash, everything came back into sharp focus. Despite its hissing and gibberish, I began to strangely understand its speech without difficulty. While I could hear it speak in another language, I heard in plain English. This creature began speaking in broken rhymes in a rough, raspy manner, interrupted often with highpitched screeches. It spoke: “Dimensions of eternity hold no bounds. A small area can appear as big as a country or as small as an ant’s hole. Neither size nor depth matters here; only space fashioned by one’s mind. Within the walls one cannot escape what one dreads the most. I am (a) HOST here. What one sows is what one REAPS! What one sows is what one REAPS! What one sows is what one REAPS! Come, follow me.” The devilish host pointed across the wide, vacant expanse of road. Within its spongy, dry, brown dirt, small maggot-like creatures arose, squealed, and dipped back into little dark holes like insects. Hissing and spitting this lizardlike brute said, “Come and see, it’s been granted to thee.
Let’s first move on over to the ledge of this wide road.” All I could do was proceed continuously speaking a Name and Title. I wanted to wake up so badly. The fear was overwhelming. How could this be? Long ago, I argued that this place did not exist, but now, here I was. Seeing became believing. Following the foul beast, we both walked out onto the broad barren road, away from the cubes towards what appeared to be a cliff-like ledge, dropping into emptiness. We passed several lone, peculiar creatures roaming about. Passing these, we reached the road’s edge. Looking up and down, it seemed as if I were in the middle of a spiral staircase. Above was a winding, ascending spiral, and below a descending one as far as the eye could see. In the middle was a doughnut hole of space, like the inside of a pit. In awe, I watched bizarre beings moving through this space as if being lifted by some strange force, while others appeared to be climbing translucent, vaporous beams. Upon the roadway, hoards of peculiar entities moved in loose packs. One such pack came and encompassed us.
There, surrounding us on every side, were creatures both small and great in stature. Their features were ferocious, yet soft, then hideous, and then deceptively gentle. Some resembled animals, a few looked snake-like, many appeared almost human, and others were similar to serpents with round heads, sinewy arms, and short, lizard-like legs.
These were strange beings. Several looked almost human but had three faces on the orb of their head. Each face continuously revolved horizontally round and round. With every rotation, their facial features meshed with fluttering appearances into the next. Their eyes were dark and deceptive. They all varied in colors and hues. One particular creature, standing off in the distance, had skin with a purplish, glowing, light-blue tone. It had three faces like the others had, but it was stunningly beautiful. The faces slowly orbited around the orb of its purplish head. I could not tell if it was manlike or not due to a concealing garment it wore around its body. It was out there watching in sullen silence, motionless, just staring at me while emitting a purplish-blue aura. I saw several milling around us that appeared like “walking stick” insects with human-like faces about onethird of the way down their body. Other creatures reminded me of tree trunks and plants with human characteristics.
Many of the apparitions gathered around us appeared like gargoyles without wings. These varied in height from a few inches to around five feet tall. The colors of these creatures’ skin all varied in dark hues. Every one of the gargoyle entities wore odd-looking pants from the waste down. Some wore robes. All around me were a vast array of odd beings of diverse shapes, and on the road lived small creatures that resembled worms. As I watched these creatures, they at first looked harmlessly pleasant, but then, as I stared, I saw them transform into hideousness before my eyes.
The entities with the rotating faces seemed tallest. Lengthwise the snake and serpent-shaped ones appeared longest. The “walking stick” creatures varied in size and length. It was an incredible sight. A costume designer for a horror movie would be gravely perplexed to recreate this scene The noise from this place was incredible, the smell, sickening. The sights were mesmerizing. I stood, adapting to this place with all its creatures lurking about. I slowly began to realize that this hissing, human-lizard-like ghastly being was showing me around this domain as a guide would a tourist at a seaside resort, but this was not a resort. It looked at me and said, “Turn to the walls and look upon the stacks of boxes, each upon a row, and row upon row; stacked six high they go along the road and as far back as they can go. Inside are souls with many friends for each; yes, some friends leave while others like to stay with our guest. The levels of this spiral way spin thither and yon, descending lower where the blessings grow. Come and see; granted thee. Come follow me back to where the boxes grow.” In a limping fashion, this fiend dragged its ugly feet along, creating weak puffs of dust as we headed back toward the front ranks of cubes located across this wide expanse of ugly terrain. Reaching these, the creature came to the border where two cubes met and walked between them without effort into some sort of secret passageway.
In like manner, I followed. As I entered, the cube’s walls eerily parted like ripples from a stone splashing in water. A path came into view, revealing more cubes that lay behind the ones on the front row. It was a maze of narrow hallways that lay beyond, leading to cubicles further back. Cube after connecting cube were all pressed tightly against these narrow passageways. As I began to walk between these compartments, the bordering walls would expand just enough for my body to rub uneasily against it. While I moved, the walls would close in behind leaving me feeling eerily claustrophobic. The walls felt warm and much like a dolphin’s skin feels to the touch. Walking between the cubes, I noticed that at different locations the pathways would at one turn be pressed together, and at another turn they would become narrow hallways; then, at another turn, small wedge-shaped rooms appeared where the cubes did not press tightly against each other. More narrow passageways led to the farthest cells that lay against what appeared to be the back wall of a pit located a great distance from the roadway. Where we were walking, the floor was the same ugly brown dirt of the road, and the ceiling was made up of the cubes stacked above. The cubes were stacked six high. To go up or down to the next highest or lowest cubicle, all one had to do was desire it and the walls from the surrounding cells would morph, forming stairs that reached the destination one wanted.
The host walked ahead of me. We walked between the cubes for what seemed a long time. Inside every square cell resided a single person along with several creatures. These creatures gave the illusion of being people, animals, trees, and incredible things. Every person was imprisoned in his or her own private prison. All were in varying degrees of anguish, according to the deeds and actions done in life, to life, against life, even for life, both the bad and the good. Truly, this is a land best forgotten.
I could see into each cube in some strange form of double vision. It was like viewing the cubicles from the outside, at the same time seeing the inside of these abodes as one of its inhabitants saw it. For reasons unknown to me how or why, the people and creatures inside seemed to be a little less than two thirds of their normal size. Odd!
We walked between and passed cube after cube, up and down. Some were empty, but the vast majority had a person trapped inside. If I looked up, there was a bottom view of a person’s wretched cell and the events that were being enacted inside. Looking right to left I saw more people living out scenarios once lived in mortal life, but now with strange creatures as companions and props. Turning to the right, I could see people enjoying their stay, but then they would grow sullen because the scene never changed. Moving on, I glanced and saw a woman dressed in dated garments of a century gone by sitting, on a beach, mindlessly drawing circles in the sand. Then we passed an old man trying to catch a fish in a pond. It all looked so surreal. What had these people done to deserve such a boring fate? Was not there supposed to be fire and brimstone here? We traveled between more cubes. The sides of these eerily rubbed against the texture of my skin. Everywhere I gazed, I could not help but see people individually trapped inside. Each person lost in the illusions that their personal prison portrayed.
There, in a cube, a young man resided who seemed to be attending a costume ball. He appeared to be enjoying himself rather well. Then the party guests began to cruelly ridicule him. Passing this cell to the next, I saw another person being flogged on what appeared to be an old sailing ship sinking in an ocean; just prior to this he was enjoying being captain on that ship. We moved on. Suddenly the sides of a cube formed stairs. The ugly host pointed at the stairs and said, “Come, climb to the upper ones above.” Ascending upward, we then emerged somewhere on the top sixth row near the back wall. This level was different than the rest, reeking of deception and quiet gloom. The floor here took on an ashen-grayburning-ember hue and masked the views of the people trapped below. It was echoing quiet. All that could be heard were sounds of many shuffling feet. Before me lay a grand hallway that stretched into the distance before ending. This hall was bordered on both sides by cubicles. The ceiling arched upward cathedral fashion into the dirt roof of the pit. Soiled green linen-like drapes, adorning the hall, often eerily rubbed against me like unseen cobwebs concealed in shadows. Down the long, semi-narrow corridor, I could see several large foul beings quietly sitting upon a platform where a podium resided. From my vantage point this cathedral walkway appeared shaped like a sideways ‘T’ with the podium’s stage marking the apexes’ intersection.
At the central apex, the hall branched out of sight towards the back wall, while the other leg stretched straight onward before me. Inside these halls, were sporadic groups of shadowy creatures walking, huddled together, shoulderto-shoulder, and steadily plodding past us. Each cluster glumly passed, vacantly starring blindly ahead, never noticing we were there. Separate groups would enter various cubes to my left, which were pressed tightly against the back wall, and then vanished from view. These gaggles were arriving from the apex up ahead, turning either right or left, while the large, foul beings watched these processions mutely plod on from the podium area. Then, I spied that purplish-aqua-blue entity prowling in the dim gloom. As soon as I saw it, I thought I could hear words faintly whispering through the stark ominous silence of this great hallway saying, “The way is broad, enter here, enter there; it matters not where. Enter here or enter there; it matters not how. Follow me here, follow me there, it matters not where; just follow me here.” The center apex of the hall drew closer. The grisly host before me stopped, turned, grinned, and motioned for me to enter between cubes to our right, back toward the road. As we proceeded, its loud gnarly voice broke the hushed silence of this shadowy hall, saying, “Some enter here and are moved to where boxes grow. Others enter there through spinning tubes where boxes wait. It matters not how, as long as they keep entering this Grand Palace!” We began descending morphing stairs till reaching the bottom row. A labyrinth of right and left turns soon greeted our strides. Abruptly, we emerged from between two cubes back onto the spiraling roadway.
Walking between these was like a foretaste of things to come and prepared my senses to comprehend what lay ahead. Standing a few feet from me, this beastly host creature leered at me, as it stood stone-like on the wide, dusty road. Its foul-smelling breath was distorting its face. It seemed as if it had many eyes moving in a kaleidoscope of scathing eyeballs. Leering. Staring. Scathing. Glaring.
EXCERPT 4:
Walking along on the fifth story of cubes was a new nightmare. Seeing those termed as ‘nice’ confined here had shaken me. However, with each passing scene the ‘nice’ were in reality quite different than first perceived. Many diverse desires corrupted their lives. Some desires seemed noble and good. Other desires were just plain bad. No matter, they all corrupted. That uniquely arrogant, condescending, asserting-your-rights-nomatter- the-cost attitude brought many here. This desire unknowingly deceived and defiled scores of victims. Many used this as an excuse to slay those they viewed as weak, according to their own twisted opinions. When encountering any person perceived as a potential threat, or not meeting their preconceived standards, they sought to slay careers, marriages, hopes, and dreams of anyone they saw as not fit.
This attitude was carried over at home, at play, and everywhere they went. If you failed to live up to their predetermined standards, you were marked as prey to be taught a lesson, or targeted for abuse. It comes in many forms, from gossiping slander to creating scapegoats; all in order to rule others’ lives like a king or queen, and then hope to be perceived by others as something great for their own ego’s reward. Cube after cube were passed by. There, inside a cubicle, a man from 1890 who gave to the poor only to be seen by others, so he could be exalted as being something great. He went about claiming how vast his giving was, just to earn accolades from the masses. He was a true hypocrite claiming other wealthy persons should pay their fair share, because he paid a mere pittance from his immense net worth.
He neglected those he employed, paid them low wages, and only through his corporation’s profits did he give to the poor. Now he was encapsulated in a cube as a beggar begging for bread while a crowd of people passed him by, spitting on him as they went. Across form this cell was another man from days gone by, who was wedged inside a barrel that was jammed inside a narrow cave. This man was stingy with the things given during life. He was being deprived of the things he once horded. Creatures chained to the floor of his habitat would place certain items before his face that would aid his escape. He could not reach these because his arms were immobile, stuck tight by his sides, unable to move.
Then we passed a woman, washing clothes upon a rock in a muddy stream wearing the garments of Africa. Despite being pious and performing nice deeds, she was caught up in pride and greed. She envied her neighbor’s goods, complained a lot, and spoke badly about a young woman she did not really know because she thought she looked more beautiful than her. She perceived her as weak and in need of a lesson that only she could teach. How dare this one try to take her place in the community! She would put a stop to that, and nip it in the bud! She never really knew this other woman, but that did not matter. She perceived her a threat to her status and continually slandered the woman’s excellent character. The other woman turned the other cheek after each libelous attack. This was viewed as weakness. She was like a cat toying with a wounded mouse. She told herself that she was just trying to teach that woman a lesson, but in truth it was only a grudge justified to slay: to remove one more beautiful than she.
Down by the stream stood a creature imitating the beautiful woman that she reviled without cause, telling her the things she once reasoned true but now found a lie. She became the mouse. The creature, like a cat, began to play. We moved on, leaving this scene. What one sows is what one reaps. People inhabiting this fifth row of cubes were all mixed together. This row did not class people together with common anguishes or punishments. In fact, no level really did. However, the sixth row reeked of something different waiting above. You could not help but feel an ominous sensation radiating down onto you. The sixth row was reserved for certain types of people, and we were on our way there.
Walking behind the ambling lizard-like being, I came to another square cell on the fifth row high, where resided a cruel woman who had died in the 1950’s, full of malice, being beaten with a hairbrush as she used to do to her children. She used to speak vilely to her children, and then used a hairbrush to bring home some arbitrary, meaningless point. She also tormented her husband in many diverse ways. What she once did to others was now happening to her. It was easy to clearly see why these cruel people were here. Feeling waves of apprehension, the others along these passageways still troubled me because they appeared nicer than the cruel people were, and yet they were here. One minute, I felt I understood why they all were here in this place, and in another, I was not so sure. It was like something following me was causing uncertainty. As I felt this, I tried to remember the montage of words spoken to me from above hoping they would provide aid again. The host creature interrupted my attempt for relief by yelling furiously, “Come on – come on, hurry up! Curse God, curse me – how can this be? How can a Most High leave all the nice people in boxes? Crying? Hurting? Come on Curse God – curse me. How can a Most High let this be?”
This foul beast motioned to move on. I followed this creature along the maze of narrow halls between cubes. It seemed like we were heading toward the far back wall. The further we went back, the passageways became wider and the triangular rooms more numerous. We came to another open area with a limited view of the ominous sixth row high. Sitting along the edges of what would be the roofs of the cubes located on the fifth row sat several creepy, shadowy creatures of varied sizes. Many looked like gargoyles without wings. Others looked harmless, beautifully sublime. All emanated devious vibes. As the creatures saw me passing below them, they began to discourse amongst themselves. “How can the Most High leave people bound in famine?” “Yeah, and tied to earthly plights beyond compare?” “Don’t forget leaving these to war.” “Yeah, floods that perish, storms that steal, how can a most high leave these be?” “Oh, that must be mercy? HA! HA!” “Aye, and then brought here to be with us?” “Fair? Just? Ha! Merciful? HA!” “You, walking there, are foolhardy to think that mercy the Most High has.” “Come on, come on, and hurry up down there! Curse you, curse me you little foul fleet-footed twit!” “Ha! Ha! Ha! You foolish, foul, fleet-footed fool! God creates calamities and we reap the rewards! Fair, Ha!! Mercy! Don’t make me laugh.” Their mocking was intense. Fear began to return with each battering I received from their words. All I could do was what I had been doing, speaking two words fast, like the staccato from a machine gun, “Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ!” and walk the gauntlet of hate-filled creatures following the host into the unknown. I wanted to answer them but I dared not stop speaking those two words. I wanted to curse them back, yell, to tell them to go away, but I could not. Their cruel taunting words kept hammering away at me. It was as though they could perceive my thoughts but not my mind and I thought back hard: “How could these beings say such matters? There were no children here, nor any disabled by fault of reason. These creatures’ many devices cause wars. As for the earth, it lives and breathes as designed. To be caught in one of its spasms seems more by chance than folly. One must be ready for eternity’s call at any moment, is what I see. “Yes, God knows all. He gave us intelligence to reason. Could we learn or be granted insight into where a calamity may next befall either by technology, divine insight, or a combination of both? Is this what was meant by man subduing the earth? “We build the buildings that collapse, not God, and yet He receives all the blame. Fair? No! And then, how dare they call me a foul, fleetfooted fool?”
I wanted to yell this out loud and curse all these creatures, but I felt oddly restrained to keep my mouth to myself and to continue walking, following that host creature shuffling along in front of me. I could hear many deep, raspy voices echoing in the halls. “You Fool! You bleak-eyed twit! How dare you think?” “Ha! Ha! Ha!” “No answers and never find any.” “Ha! Ha! Ha!” I was becoming incensed with rage at these beings because of the doubt they sow. Then the peaceful and powerful thoughts from above returned, challenging the taunts, and strengthening my wavering mind with quiet resolve with these words: “True, the earth is designed to move and breathe according to need. When a spasm arises, redemption is in the design. God chose us to choose Him, but will we? “When that tower fell so long ago, at Siloam, the question was not in who made it fall, or why it fell, or if those afflicted were more guilty than the rest, but rather raised the question of what type of redemption really redeems? “Yes, many read into events, accidents, diseases, earth calamities, and assign blame and cause. That is easy to do. However, does this type of redemption truly redeem? “Hmmm, when calamity strikes, where would you be found? Aiding the helpless? Comforting the afflicted? Doing nothing? Join in the looting? Host an argument to find blame? What truly redeems? “Yes, God chose us to choose Him, but will we? God squeezes and fashions light by generating darkness; from this, God refines harmony’s balance by initiating calamity. When calamity arises, redemption is in the design. Aiding fingers need many hands.” A brief silence filled the cavernous halls at the cessation of these words. The authoritative thoughts caused more muffled mocking to slowly intensify again. Soon, contemptuous scoffing resonated loudly in the gloomy passageways, each voice agonizing over the subject amongst themselves.
Then, the reptilian host suddenly stopped, turned and growled, “Enough, enough, hear no more. Up we go, follow me, the sixth row high boxes wait; come, follow me, half the kingdom offered thee. Come, follow me – up we go.” I did not want to go. The sixth row high from the road reeked of doom. The walls of a nearby cell morphed into narrow stairs. The creature went up. I traversed the ascent to the sixth row with great trepidation. Upon reaching this height the venue changed. The residences on this level still retained the ten-by-ten feet dimension, but these were set differently than the other rows previously seen. The walkway between these were wider and the triangle-shaped chambers larger. The ceiling was the same ugly dirt as the spiral road and roofs of the fifth-row cubicles were the floors here. The flooring was no longer a transparent smoky tan color as seen before, below, but now had an ashen-gray, burning-ember tinge. The cubes bordering the road area spread back in a fan shape just like on the other rows, but this extension ended a great distance from where the wide road was located. You could tell that the cubes packed tight, and fan like, led toward the spiral road. The other cubes placed in ranks governed the direction to the pit’s far wall. This was the only area where I had some sense of direction. Also on this level were many individual cubes set apart from the rest. The short saurian ogre was cursing everything. Its foul breath reeked stale and hot in the viscose air. However, this was not air, as we know it, nor was the act of breathing the same as how we humans breathe. In fact, breathing was more like exhaling in a manner that only served to support speech as long as you spoke, and nothing else.
This diabolical escort began speaking: “Each step we take is a take indeed on we go and on we go. Half the kingdom offered thee.” Looking behind me, the creature stopped speaking and stood stone still, pointing. I quickly turned. There in the near distance was that purplish entity, its faces rotating round and round, each full of seductive beauty and profound malice. I heard it speak. “Will thou follow me?” I said nothing in reply except the words “Jesus Christ,” non-stop. “A Most High Author of all? How can He be truly just and perfect and allow the things you have seen?” It was hypnotic, the words it spoke: “An offer given – will thou follow me? Curse God, come, follow me.” My head felt dizzy. Doubts flooded my mind about God and all His mercy and perfect justice. The reptilian host creature stood grinning from ear to ear. I continued to mutter a name and a title louder: “Jesus Christ, JESUS CHRIST!” At the loud mention of this Name and Title that strange purplish being beguilingly vanished between the cubes as though seeking pity for having received a great wound to its smugness.
Immediately, as though nothing had happened, the rank host began hobbling in the direction where the spiral road lay below. The walkways between the cubes became narrow again. I could feel the purplish creature’s presence receding in the murkiness, yet it remained lurking in the distance for another chance to devour. About this time I had the paradoxical sense that we were approaching the bottom of a bottomless pit, but in reality we were somewhere on the sixth row, six cubes high, located somewhere along a spiral road in a land best forgotten but not left unseen. The lizard guide continued onward, pointing to this cube and that. I cannot adequately express the misery I saw inside these square cells. Some people were mutilated; others sat in darkness or flames. In one, I saw a man, a warrior of Mongolia from long ago, experiencing terrible thirst while tied to the ground with what appeared to be insects crawling on his personage, each bug taunting him all the while: “You put me here, now a tasty taste of your own fun!”
I turned and looked into the cubicle opposite his, and there was another man experiencing a battery of unkind words that continually assailed his mind. He was an abuser during his mortal sojourn on earth. He beat his family quite often with words and at times with fists. He derived great pleasure from this, as it made him feel good and in control. He told his sons and daughters, “You are scum; you’ll never amount to nothing! Do as I say boy (with an upraised hand). Woman – what did you do with my pants! How dare you – you witch.” These words were now coming back to haunt him. He sat on a brown sofa in a room with algae green curtains that were opened, exposing a sliding glass door. He sat with the sun to his back, drinking what appeared to be a glass of beer, but in fact it was nothing at all except a prop. There he was, while invisible voices assailed his mind. He remained seated with an all-consuming anger in his eyes, listening to the words he once spoke over and over again, but now each word was returning to him. During my stay in this place, I always heard the cubes click at certain times. Each timed tick would be followed by a click, and the cubes would move and ever so slowly began descending to new levels located somewhere below.
As the cubes moved, torments increased, and the scenes inside the cells changed for those trapped inside. On the sixth row high, when the cubes moved we also moved, just as we did on the proceeding levels below. Here on this row, it felt as though I was approaching the bottom of a bottomless pit, yet I was still six cubes high, off the road that lay somewhere out of sight. I witnessed a nightmare of events as we traveled along these passageways. Every person that I saw inside his or her cube was living in his or her own private night terror. Each person’s worst nightmare had become a reality. The most violent and cruel received various forms of mutilations, while others were experiencing mental torments which they had personally devised for others in their time on earth. As the cubes moved, torments increased by degrees. There was such despair, hopelessness, and extreme loneliness here. The weeping was like one long, droning sound. Isolation was the common factor for all, and separation from God was very pronounced. I noticed that so many of these people had simply accepted their fate, while others cursed God, cursed the creatures that appeared to them as companions, and cursed themselves. I saw men and women trapped in cubes that reeked of despairing gloom and deep darkness. Some appeared to be in houses that were decorated like the ones they once lived in. Still there were others bound, unable to move, while buglike creatures crawled in and out of their mouths. The people were shouting, “No! This can’t be happening! I want to wake up!”
Another cube passed, and inside were several creatures strapping a man clad in ancient Roman garb to a cross and driving short spikes into his wrists and near the ankles. He was once a soldier, a leader of men of battles fought long ago. He had ordered many to be crucified along a road. Here he was now, as he had once done; now it was done to him over and over again, feeling all the pain fresh and new each time. Over there I saw a woman who had claimed to be a real witch in the 1890’s. She was trapped inside a coffin. She would scratch the inside trying to get out, and still could see herself on the outside looking in while shadowy figures stood outside mocking her. It had been her worst nightmare during her earthly life. She had dreamed this often, but now it was real. She was cruel toward those who tried to love her, and here it was being repaid in kind. Her cube clicked and moved, and we moved along with it. The scene changed. The coffin opened. She sat straight up, screaming hateinspired terror at everything that moved. Every lost soul in this place was experiencing degrees of severe isolation, loneliness, gloom, boredom, and despair. It was as if these people became totally resigned to his or her fate. It was though the anguishes seen here were being given back in full measure, to each according to every unkind word spoken, every slanderous lie told, all filthy thoughts relished, all covetousness practiced, every hidden dirty passion that had been enjoyed; every foul deed’s motives were completely exposed, totally without excuse.
There seemed to be a whispering ambiance in the air that sounded like a gentle wind rustling leaves in the twilight of a summer evening, and was speaking something like this to all the inhabitants: “You, in here, chose to walk away from the only way, even though many times you were called to restrain and return; you refused. Look at what you made of your life, and what you did. How can you remain and continue to defile the holy way provided? “One with an intellect and reason has responsibilities, and to force you to change now is impossible. Why? Could it be because your intellect and reason would continually pervert the change, renewing detestation toward God if consequences do not last? “Just because you were given the gift of a living mind granted latitude to reason with intelligence, you, here, find fault with judgment? What was given as a gift, life, cannot be taken back once sealed by eternity’s ways. If so, what was done before would remain and a gift would no longer be a gift as originally consigned. “How can the Most High change your reason here, from this, if you failed to heed then? To change your intellect and reason now would make you like a lowly beast, or a slave, who serves out of fear and hates those above due to perceived resentments. How do you think that one before was found to have iniquity in his heart, and what this means?
“If you were allowed to be free from these torments, after serving some time here, in a thousand years you would return to your ways knowing you would just be punished, serve a little time, and be free again. No justice in that. “You, here and there, say blast me off into an eternal nothingness! To do so would be against the nature provided by the Most High. He cannot curse His own being that cannot help but breathe life. “There are many who desire this type of destruction, but life cannot beget death of the kind that breeds eternal nothingness. However, it is not impossible to do this, but again that would be against the nature of all things consigned. What does it matter when the matter was decided to be a matter of fact? “You, in here, perverted life’s free gifts, and changed it all just to suit personal cravings and desire. You kept the wrong life, live. You neglected family, fostered envy, slew people with your words, sought to be king of the hill, thought you knew what was best, brought others low deemed as unfit. You, in here, made life ugly where you were assigned by all manner of means to rationalize your selfish gratifications.
“You, there, rejected the chance to escape this fate and gleefully accepted the free ride that falsely promised to turn stones to bread, turn every perceived want and desire into some form of power that was perceived as just a “benefit”, and promised that you were exempt from all the calamities you created during your mortal sojourn. “You challenge by saying that if God truly was allpowerful and merciful, He could change those down here with the wave of His hand. How can one really change your mind now if you would not freely listen then? You would learn to view this as a spanking, just temporary punishment, to make you behave for a while, but then you would return to your own vomiting reason every few thousand years. Corruption would only beget more corruption unless restrained, confined, here.”
This quiet ambiance’s gentle rustlings stirred many inside their cubes to curse God, themselves, the creatures; but it also caused them to understand and accept their fate, while awaiting a future judgment’s final verdict’s decree, and then…?

"While controversial for many reasons, the first film in the so-called Kelvin Timeline is a solid movie that works as a great introduction to the universe — even if it didn't fully capture the heart and soul that made Star Trek endure for 60 years and counting.
Star Trek (2009) was meant to launch a new feature film franchise, but its filmmakers made a fundamental error in their strategy. By changing the characters so drastically, fans old and new didn't get enough time with the new USS Enterprise's crew to understand their friendships in the way that the films following Star Trek: The Original Series allowed. The original Star Trek movies benefited from a seasons-long TV show that endeared the characters to audiences beforehand, whereas the reboot relied more on the nostalgia and familiarity they evoked.
As a result, Star Trek (2009) felt more like a reverent movie about the USS Enterprise's crew that would be made in the characters' universe than a glimpse into their missions and lives. Longtime fans can easily imagine the reboot as a holo-film made with the time-travel conceit that the late-24th Century filmmakers would use to justify a cameo for the "real" Spock. Most of Star Trek's classic storytelling doesn't involve the big set pieces or breathless action one finds in an Abrams picture. It almost stands to reason that this blockbuster would be the way Federation citizens would dramatize and exaggerate the adventures of the most famous Starfleet crew. While the reboot's filmmakers didn't perfectly nail the spirit of Star Trek, the story they told is a well-made and fun adventure with enough recognizable elements for Trekkies to enjoy.
[...]
For Star Trek (2009), Leonard Nimoy's Spock served that role. He originated from the Prime Universe and failed to prevent the destruction of Romulus, which later played heavily into Star Trek: Picard. His presence — and that of the vengeful Romulan, Nero — meant that everything fans knew and loved about Star Trek was different or even non-canon here. Despite these major divergences from the beloved canon, Nimoy's presence, particularly his scenes with Chris Pine's Kirk and Zachary Quinto's Spock, were the reboot's highlights. By virtue of Nimoy's presence, this movie is a "real" Star Trek movie.
A version of this movie without Spock Prime would be worse, but it would've given the filmmakers license to let Vulcan survive. There is a massive narrative power to the destruction of Spock's home planet, especially given its nostalgic value among Trekkies and the future destruction of Romulus within the canon. For longtime Star Trek fans, it's almost too much to bear. The destruction of any planet would be too large a tragedy for a film's story — especially in a Star Trek story — but to have it be Vulcan? Audiences would be as emotionally compromised as Spock on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. Nimoy helplessly watching Vulcan be reduced to ashes while he was exiled on a barren planet is the most important moment in Star Trek (2009). It's tragic, and it also means that Spock's final mission failed (until Star Trek: Discovery, anyway).
Nimoy reprising Spock in a new Star Trek movie is undoubtedly going to be the best part of that film. Nimoy is a generous actor, and his performance as Spock is understated, which makes it all the more impressive. This is a Spock who's more in touch with his human side's emotions, living in balance with his logic and feelings. Seeing his planet destroyed devastates him. When he meets the Kelvin Timeline Kirk for the first time, he sounds ready to unburden himself of his despair. Yet, he quickly realizes that an emotional Spock was not the Spock who this particular Kirk needed at that specific moment in time. And so he becomes Star Trek's (2009) answer to Obi-Wan Kenobi, a stoic mentor who took a leap of faith with life-and-death consequences. Plus, Spock's improvised final line, "Thrusters on full," is full of hope and melancholy that its possible Nimoy wasn't even acting.
Star Trek (2009) Is Spock’s Movie, but James T. Kirk Makes It Work
[...]
Pine's version of Kirk is unique and distinct from Shatner's. This worked for the film, especially since the destruction of the USS Kelvin (which was named after Abrams's grandfather) was the inciting incident of the Kelvin Timeline that forced Jim to grow up without a father. Pine's take on Kirk is a perfect reinterpretation of the beloved character. He has no less swagger than the original, but none of the poise of a Starfleet captain.
However, Pine could've arguably evoked Shatner a little more, especially as Kirk gradually grew from cocky hotshot to the confident and reliable young captain Trekkies knew and loved. For comparison's sake, Quinto's Spock had many little touches that emulated Nimoy. Pine, in contrast, portrayed a mostly original take on Kirk who was far removed from the one seen in Star Trek: The Original Series. This didn't mean that Pine had to do a satirical impression of Shatner's famously exaggerated acting, like the ones that comedians like Kevin Pollak made famous. These caricatures didn't give proper credit to the skillful acting Shater did as Captain Kirk. His was a more nuanced performance than people think, especially in the films. Fans who were particularly connected to the noble leadership of the classic Kirk may fail to connect with his rebooted counterpart. The Kelvin Timeline Kirk eventually arrives in a place and state of mind similar to that of his Prime Timeline predecessor, especially in his closing scenes, but it's a long road to get there.
[...]
Star Trek (2009) is really Spock's movie in the way that no previous Star Trek film ever was. Kirk is still a vital part of that equation, even if he was more of Spock's supportive side-character, but the reboot almost missed the mark because of Kirk's vastly different characterization and Pine's performance.
[...]
Star Trek’s (2009) Look & Style Were Big Risks That Aged Well
As Modern Star Trek Looks to the Past, the Reboot’s Design Departures Work Better
So much of the look of classic Star Trek was redesigned for the 2009 film, and the reboot's barely changed USS Enterprise is a testament to how perfect Matt Jefferies's original design was. Designer Ryan Church was tasked with making the ship large enough for thousands of crewmembers to live and work in, and to update its design. However, he could not improve the saucer section, secondary hull and dual nacelle shape. He did redesign the nacelles with a "hot rod" quality, which was reportedly requested by Abrams himself.
From the outside, the USS Enterprise looked as beautiful as always. In fact, the Industrial Light and Magic VFX team seamlessly added the signature lens flares from the practical sets in all their digital designs. While even Abrams himself admitted he overdid the lens flares, they added an element of reality to the computer-generated shots. The ship's interior, however, does look like a sci-fi Apple Store. For better and worse, the reboot's designers tried to evoke the "clean future" aesthetic that Gene Roddenberry insisted on.
This was the first time Star Trek was done on such a big budget and scale, and the filmmakers put every penny they had on screen. Now that new Star Trek series like Star Trek: Srange New Worlds reimagined things again by skewing a bit closer to the aesthetic of the original shows, the Kevlin Timeline's different style becomes an even more welcome departure in hindsight. It expanded the visual vocabulary of Star Trek, pushing what's possible further than ever before. From the phasers to the uniforms, the modern design is sufficiently evocative of what came before. This welcome change of pace applied to every other facet of Star Trek (2009) as well. Although some parts will rub hardcore Trekkies the wrong way and even if the original Star Trek is still superior in some key ways, this reboot was clearly a labor of love that aged surprisingly better than anyone expected it to."
Joshua M. Patton (CBR.com)
Link (long read):
https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-2009-jj-abrams-review/

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At HNI, we understand the critical role a smooth onboarding process plays in setting new hires up for success. It's more than just paperwork and introductions. It's about creating a welcoming environment, fostering a sense of belonging, and equipping your team members with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.
In this article, we'll delve into the key elements of a successful onboarding process and explore how HNI implements these strategies to empower our new recruits from day one.
Why Onboarding Matters
First, let's address the "why." Onboarding is more than a formality; it significantly impacts employee engagement, retention, and overall productivity. Studies show that companies with a strong onboarding process experience:
Increased employee retention: New hires who feel supported and valued during the onboarding phase are more likely to stay with the company.
Improved productivity: Well-onboarded employees reach full productivity faster, minimizing the learning curve and contributing meaningfully sooner.
Enhanced employee engagement: A positive onboarding experience fosters a sense of belonging and increases employee satisfaction, leading to higher engagement.
Building a Stellar Onboarding Process at HNI
At HNI, we've meticulously crafted an onboarding process that goes beyond the standard routine. Here's a glimpse into what makes our approach stand out:
Pre-boarding:
Even before their first day, we begin the journey. New hires receive a welcome package with essential information about HNI, the team structure, and what to expect during their first week. This fosters a sense of excitement and prepares them for a smooth transition.
Day One:
The first day sets the tone for the entire onboarding experience. We prioritize a warm welcome, making new hires feel comfortable and valued. This includes introductions to colleagues, a tour of the workplace, and a clear overview of company policies and procedures.
Week One & Beyond:
The first week is packed with informative sessions. New hires are introduced to their roles and responsibilities, company culture, and core values. We provide comprehensive training sessions on relevant tools, processes, and industry knowledge.
Here's where HNI goes a step further:
Mentorship Program: We pair each new hire with a dedicated mentor who provides ongoing guidance, support, and answers to any questions that may arise.
Buddy System: New hires are paired with a "buddy" from their team who can answer informal questions, offer support, and help them navigate the social aspects of the workplace.
Regular Check-ins: We conduct regular check-ins with new hires to assess their progress, address any concerns, and ensure they're feeling comfortable and supported.
Investing in Continuous Learning:
Onboarding doesn't stop after the first few weeks. At HNI, we believe in continuous learning and development. We offer ongoing training programs, workshops, and access to learning resources to help employees stay updated on industry trends and enhance their skillsets.
The HNI Advantage:
By prioritizing a well-structured onboarding process, HNI empowers new hires to become valuable team members faster. We believe in fostering a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable asking questions, seeking help, and taking ownership of their roles.
This comprehensive approach not only benefits our employees but also strengthens our company culture. By investing in our people from the very beginning, we create a more engaged, productive, and successful workforce at HNI.
Ready to Join the HNI Family?
If you're looking for a career where you'll be supported, challenged, and empowered to reach your full potential, explore career opportunities at HNI! We're always on the lookout for talented individuals who share our passion for learning and development. Visit our careers page to learn more!
Note: While we haven't included specific details about HNI's onboarding process (like the duration of training programs), this is a general framework you can adapt to showcase HNI's commitment to a strong onboarding experience.

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Dubai, the city of towering ambitions and groundbreaking innovation, thrives on strong leadership. But how do you hone the skills it takes to navigate the dynamic landscape and lead your team towards success? The answer lies in exceptional leadership training.
In this article, we at HNI.ae, a leading provider of professional development solutions, delve into the world of leadership training in Dubai. We'll explore the benefits, guide you through choosing the right program, and introduce you to some of the top-notch providers in the city.
Why Invest in Leadership Training?
Investing in leadership training is an investment in your organization's future. Here's how it empowers you and your team:
Enhanced Skills: Programs equip you with practical skills in communication, motivation, conflict resolution, decision-making, and strategic thinking. You'll learn to delegate effectively, build trust, and foster a thriving work environment.
Boosted Confidence: Developing your leadership capabilities fosters confidence and self-belief. This translates into stronger decision-making, inspiring others, and navigating challenges with a clear vision.
Improved Team Dynamics: Effective leaders create a positive and productive work environment. Leadership training helps you build strong relationships, encourage collaboration, and empower your team members to reach their full potential.
Elevated Performance: Strong leadership fosters a culture of innovation and excellence. By honing your skills, you'll drive higher team performance, achieve business goals with greater efficiency, and gain a competitive edge.
Increased Employee Retention: Employees thrive under inspiring leadership. By investing in your leadership development, you create a workplace where people feel valued, motivated, and eager to contribute.
Choosing the Right Leadership Training Program
Dubai offers a vast array of leadership training programs. Here are some key factors to consider when making your choice:
Your Leadership Style: Do you prefer a more directive or collaborative approach? Programs cater to different styles, allowing you to refine your existing strengths.
Specific Needs: Identify areas you want to develop. Do you seek to improve communication, delegation skills, or strategic thinking? Choose a program that addresses your specific needs.
Learning Format: Do you prefer in-person, virtual, or a blended approach? Consider your learning preferences and schedule flexibility.
Program Duration: Programs range from one-day workshops to multi-week comprehensive courses. Choose the duration that best fits your time commitment.
Trainer Credentials: Look for programs delivered by experienced professionals with a proven track record in leadership development.
Top Leadership Training Providers in Dubai
Here are some of the leading providers offering high-quality leadership training programs in Dubai:
Leadership and Innovation Learning Institute (LiLi Global): LiLi Global provides a range of innovative and interactive leadership programs focused on fostering creativity and strategic thinking.
Finest Leaders Business Services: They offer customized leadership development programs designed to address the specific needs of your organization and leadership team.
SELEM DMCC: This training provider offers a comprehensive selection of leadership programs, from core foundational skills to advanced leadership development.
Atton Institute: Atton Institute delivers practical and effective leadership training programs designed to equip managers with the skills to build high-performing teams.
GLOMACS: They offer a variety of leadership and management training courses, including programs focused on digital leadership and building resilience.
Empower Your Leadership Journey with HNI.ae
At HNI.ae, we understand the importance of investing in your leadership development. We partner with leading training providers to offer a curated selection of leadership programs in Dubai.
Contact HNI.ae today to discuss your leadership development goals and let us help you choose the program that empowers you to reach your full potential and lead your team towards success.
Remember, leadership is a continuous journey of learning and growth. Investing in leadership training in Dubai equips you with the tools and confidence to thrive in the dynamic business environment and unlock unimaginable possibilities.