Neal Litherland
Bio
Neal Litherland is an author, freelance blogger, and RPG designer. A regular on the Chicago convention circuit, he works in a variety of genres.
Blog: Improved Initiative and The Literary Mercenary
Stories (309/0)
Creamy Yogurt Jello: An Ideal Dessert For Those Looking To Lose Weight
About a year and some change ago I started getting serious about my weight. I wasn't in my 20s anymore, and I had to acknowledge that I couldn't just spend more time at the gym if I really wanted to slim down and lose my burgeoning stomach. While I managed to get my meals figured out using portion control (more on that struggle in How I Lost 40 Pounds by Eating More Taco Bell), one area that always dogged me was dessert. I have a large sweet tooth, and I am one of those people who firmly believes a serving size of ice cream is whenever you hear your spoon hitting the bottom of the carton.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Feast
What Does "Blood Is Thicker Than Water" Really Mean?
You remember that one time when you really wanted to spend Friday night with your friends, staying up late, watching terrible movies and just blowing off steam from the stress of the week, but you were told in no uncertain terms that you were going to your sister's recital. No matter what logical arguments you could come up with as to why you should be excused from this family outing (you being there won't make the music any better, you've already heard the performance dozens of times thanks to her incessant practicing, your sister actually swore a vow to kill you the next time she saw you), the elders probably intoned some version of the phrase, "blood is thicker than water," to still any further protestations on your part.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Humans
Robocop is Lawful Good
The film Robocop is held up by many as a classic that combines science fiction with political commentary. On its surface it's a story about a cop who finds himself in the center of a clandestine program to create the ultimate law enforcement agent. He struggles to solve his own murder after become a cybernetic agent of the law, uncovers corruption, and does what he can to clean up the city. Beneath the surface, though, it's a movie about how corporations treat people as little more than objects, how power corrupts, and how even those with good intentions are often bound by societal norms that stop them from doing the right thing.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
Remaking "The Princess Bride" For Real? Is There a Way To Do It?
The Internet had a collective gasp recently when we heard there was going to be a remake of The Princess Bride. While it turned out to be a parody remake made during quarantine for Quibi by a star-studded cast of performers working from home, according to Tor, the conversations surrounding the film got my brain churning.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Geeks
What is a Wizard?
Thanks to the Harry Potter series, and other works of more modern fantasy like the Dresden Files, wizards have become cool again. Though they were once relegated to the pages of dime novel fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons role playing books, or found only as supporting cast members in old fairy tales and myths, today's wizards have shaved off their beards, hit the gym, and become powerful protectors of humanity in modern fiction. The re-imagining has led a lot of fans to question why wizards were always learned old gray beards with a penchant for philosophy, though. Is it just a stereotype that was built upon cultural touchstones, or was there something more to it?
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Futurism
What is a Witch?
Language evolves over time to fit the needs of the culture that speaks it. Every time a new idea or concept enters that culture, the language changes to embrace it. As time progresses old ideas might fall by the wayside, and the words once used to describe them find new or different meanings. Tracing the definitions and meanings over the years as they spread from one culture to another is a bit like examining the fossil record, showing the full development of a word from what it is today to what it was hundreds of years ago.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Futurism
The Punisher is Evil
The avatar of the modern anti-hero, Frank Castle's death's head symbol is recognized all around the world. A Marine Corps veteran whose family was killed by the mob for witnessing a crime they shouldn't have seen, Frank was failed by the justice system as the men responsible walked free. Taking up the bloody trade of the soldier once again, he declared war on the underworld, and he's been stacking bodies like cordwood ever since.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Geeks
What is a Warlock?
If you ask people what a warlock is, you're going to get a variety of answers depending on who you direct the question towards. Some people will tell you it's a man in league with the devil, who exchanged his immortal soul for fell powers. Some might say it's an old term for a liar, or a promise-breaker. Gamers will say it's a sweet spell-casting class in systems like Dungeons and Dragons, and Wiccans may explain that it's a term applied to people who practice a destructive form of new age, neo-pagan faith.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Futurism
How To Build Nightwing in The Pathfinder RPG
Batman might be one of the most infamous heroes of the DC comics universe, skilled and strong enough to take on all comers, but he's only one man. Like all great crusaders, the Dark Knight needed a squire; a role is filled by Robin. While several heroes have worn that mantle over the years, this particular build will focus on Dick Grayson; the first Robin who grew into the hero Nightwing.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
What is a Sorcerer?
When you think of a sorcerer, what images come to mind? A man in a long robe, perhaps, waving a wand or making arcane gestures with his hands? A woman tossing bones, or gazing into a fire, foretelling events she could not possibly know of? Getting close?
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Futurism
How To Build Batman in The Pathfinder RPG
Perhaps the most famous superhero of all time (and certainly the one with the biggest number of film adaptations under his utility belt) is Batman. A stand-out in the DC universe, Batman has no superpowers barring his colossal wealth and indomitable willpower, but he doesn't let that stop him from taking on challenges ranging from street gangs, to homicidal clowns, to alien invasions. For those who want to bring a touch of the Dark Knight into a Pathfinder game it's actually a lot easier than you might think.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
- Top Story - May 2020
Top 3 Hidden Gem TV Shows You Should Binge WatchTop Story - May 2020
We're all spending a lot more time in front of our screens these days, keeping ourselves inside where we're safe and waiting for the pandemic to blow over. For a lot of us, that means we've already chewed through our list of shows we've been meaning to watch, and we've chased it with our old favorites that we turn to in our times of need. If you're coming up dry for new shows to feed that hunger inside you, and you'd like some fictional fears to deal with as a change of pace, here are three spooky shows that even diehard horror fans may have missed.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Horror