Skyworthy Goes to College

A Couple of Drakes' Skyworthy is essentially a group of thematic writing prompts that tricks you into writing an epic story about skyships in small, poignant bites.

"Would this," I wondered aloud to my neighbor Dustin Hyman PhD , who teaches English at Trinidad State College ,"be a fun classroom exercise?"

Dustin gave me the floor and the kids, he reported, had fun and all submitted in-class writing assignments that described their ships, who designed them and what happened when they were launched.

A few even signed up for the Extra Credit Extended Remix: Play the whole game, where you use a deck of standard playing cards as prompts to describe your epic span of service, which outlasts seven distinct captains and spans four watershed ages of the fictional setting.

Ships designed by abstract carpenters. Ships whose launch were marked by bizarre donnybrooks. Ships designed to inspire people to do their best. Ships with outrageous propulsion systems. Everyone had their own take on their craft's design and raison d'être. Thanks to the Prof and the class for engaging and sharing their class time with the Drakes' worthy creation.

Speaking of the Prof, We Read Some of His Fiction on the Blog

Dustin Hyman is a pretty badass writer himself. A few weeks ago we sat down and recorded his short story, "The Church of Pit ," which won the Chicago Tribune's Nelson Algren Award back in '18. I liked the piece's heart, magical realism, humor and economy of language.

He also has a wild new story collection (Gutter Punks ) coming out on Gateway Press in Jan. 2024 that is available for preorder. He has a knack for a joke and no fear of harvesting humor and pathos from the darkest parts of the mind, so I'm looking forward to getting my own copy.

My Credibility is on the Line

A shout to Breakup Gaming Society listener Todd Scott , who pulled the trigger on his own copy of Splendor after I boldly proclaimed in Episode 70 that there is zero downside to owning it.

I still maintain that it belongs on top of whatever pile of casual games you might keep around, but we'll see what Todd says. Forthcoming sarcasm from him means I was overconfident in my own curation.

That's it for this one. Until next time, friends: May you fight long and well.

N