AI Threats, Platform Changes and Cultural Shifts Authors Can't Ignore

Son of the Black Sword, set in a world of complex magic and ancient conflicts, follows Ashok Vadal, a member of the warrior caste. As a Protector, Ashok is sworn to defend the established order, but he begins to question his allegiances when he witnesses the empire's corruption and injustice. His journey forces him to confront the dark truths of his society. The book is the first in the series. Correia blends military fantasy with intense action sequences. The story explores themes of duty, honor, and the cost of maintaining power in a morally ambiguous world.

This volume, edited by Rolf Rendtorff and Robert A. Kugler, brings together contributions from well-known experts on Leviticus. It delves into the composition, final form, and various themes of the Book of Leviticus, as well as its reception and interpretation. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of this significant biblical text.

The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events. The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris. The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war. The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.

The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.

Dune, written by Frank Herbert, is set in a feudal interstellar society where noble houses control planetary fiefs. The story follows Paul Atreides, whose family is tasked with ruling the inhospitable desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of melange, a substance crucial for extending life and enhancing mental abilities. The novel delves into the intricate politics, religion, ecology, and technology of this futuristic world, as various factions vie for control of Arrakis and its valuable spice. Paul, with his unique abilities and training by the Bene Gesserit, becomes a key figure in this struggle and eventually assumes the role of a messianic leader among the native Fremen people.