poplitiko: INSPIRATIONS

INSPIRATIONs
By Alex Ness
August 2, 2025

PEOPLE

Ken St Andre is a friend. We have some shared interest and we shared works between us at times. He has created many games, adventures and settings. He is one creator who has heavily contributed to the world of gaming in general, and as a librarian for many years, he has helped his local region of Arizona in the pursuit of knowledge.

He has a heart of optimism, and has helped pick me up from the floor when I have been down on myself, or depressed over the health challenges I have had. He is someone who has counted steps and took on his own health challenges and few people who I know have been so regular in his efforts.

I am writing this to laud Ken's constant curiosity in life, his kindness, and how he has had an affect upon me. Here are some links:

2015 Interview
2022 Interview

Review and Commentary about Ken's Lord Dunsany tribute

ART

Art has inspired many different people. Some people, who believe in very limited governance, think that art is pointless and are offended by civilian government support of the arts. Some view art as having value beyond measure, as a message, as a symbol, and as an expression of human emotion and event. Jackson Pollock referred to modern art as being about emotional response to existential fears of the human race. Other artists presented works looking exactly like the scene they viewed.

But abstract expression and art showing every day life however great, are not working to inspire role playing gamers, and readers of fantasy. Some art is especially powerful and might link to a game, in the form of the characters on the scene, the world the art expresses inspires writers of such worlds, by seeing a directly vivid worlds the human eye had previously not viewed. I was going to present a much larger article, with works by Picasso, Munch, Dali and many more. However as we are chatting fantasy, I decided to limit this discussion to fantasy art, and as an excuse to post a large image showing some great fantasy art. Artists with work displayed are Emmanuel, Chris Achilléos, Peter Andrew Jones, Brom. All of these artists create works that are beautiful or highly successful showing monsters, heroes, battles, armies, magic, and far more. (All of them are shown in the manner of Fair use, and no copyright challenge is in any way asserted.)

FOR SALE

In the US only, brand new books sent postage paid

Two books, newly released. One featuring Poetry, Prose and Images about Lost Kingdoms like Atlantis, with co contributor Peter Urkowitz. He did great work, and his poems are quite fun. The book goes for 12 dollars over on Amazon.

My next book is a collection of poems about the Viking world, using a term for the title, Sigr, which is an ancient term meaning Victory. It is a thick collection of poems, that goes for 8 dollars. It is only available through me.

Take both books $19 postage paid. Contact me at alexanderness63 at Gmail dot com.