This page is dedicated to Alex’s contributions to The Amaranth Chronicles Blog. Here you’ll find his musings and stories as well as the CG art he produces for the Amaranth Chronicles.

My Astrocytoma Journey

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AstroCare Companion AI

After receiving my astrocytoma diagnosis, I found myself overwhelmed by medical information that was hard to understand, let alone apply to my life. Like so many others facing this journey, I wanted to make sense of what lay ahead in a hopeful, human-centered way.

Real-Life Odyssey with Astrocytoma and AI

I’m Alexander Barnes. By profession, I’m a UX/UI designer for the last 16 years, crafting experiences that bridge the gap between human needs and digital worlds.

Mysterious Possible Connection between my Astrocytoma and DMT

The journey with Astrocytoma, including AI-assisted and reflections on the fragility of the brain and the afterlife.

AI Insights: Understanding My Small Stroke Through Conversations with Different Artificial Intelligences

Mini-Stroke Survival: How AI and a Touch of Star Trek Guided Me Back to Health. We’re in a strange new world.

The Astrocytoma Experience: How an AI Guided Me Through My Stroke

I was rushed to the ER. After 2.5 hours in an MRI. They found out I had a stroke. Things are a little weird right now.

Astounding Prediction of an Earthquake, like 'Phenomenon' the movie about Astrocytoma

Just had an out-of-this-world experience because of Astrocytoma. If it weren't for the photos, no one would believe me!

A Movie Becomes Reality: How 'Phenomenon' Changed My Perspective on Astrocytoma

“Be a positive energy trampoline – absorb what you need and rebound more back.” — Dave Carolan

Meeting an AI: The Unexpected Ally in My Battle Against Brain Tumor, Astrocytoma.

“There is nothing more complicated than perception.” ATRX - IDH1 - TP53 - And their strange mutations.

Dealing with an Uninformed Doctor and a Narcissistic Girlfriend While Battling Astrocytoma

“Mortality gives meaning to human life. Love, friendship, these are precious because we know they cannot endure.” -Data

3D Character Art and Life Stories

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Chapter 12: There were four lights

Like many, many chapters in The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising, Chapter 12: There were four lights, is one I think both Chris and I have seen clearly in our

The goal isn't to live forever, but to create something that will.

…How very bad it would be for those in power if everyone knew they were just as capable of changing the world…

Not everyone dies, some people become symbols.

Our teacher, no, our leader was dead and none of us, Will’s kids, knew what to do or how to take it…

Thats how the light gets in...

I can now spot this in people earlier. I can spot the illumination further away, and it is only because others are so dimly lit

It doesn’t feel all that different...

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.”

Don't wait for the storm to pass...

“It was a profound moment when I uploaded the Storm Chaser to Sketchfab and it automatically turned my VR headset on”

The Amaranth's Interior Layout

Some things were very apparent very early on. For instance, the large round cargo bay door on the bottom of the vessel seemed to imply…

CG Art: STR1-FE "Strife"

Strife; a world deep in the Frontier, far from the overarching grasp of the U.P.E

Just My Idea’s - The Series

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Colony Wars: Redux

For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been spearheading a remake of the PlayStation 1’s Colony Wars and Colony Wars: Vengeance. I’ve wanted to remake this game since…

"Reign" a Quake 1 map by Alex Barnes

Just like the rest of the world, I’ve been playing the Quake Re-release on my PC and Nintendo Switch for the last three weeks. Like the rest of the internet…

Childhood trauma: the gift that keeps giving

I know what a fearful-avoidant is. I know because I’m a magnet for them. If all that I am was reduced to a single word, that word would be…

Requiem

Had a really profound dream last night. I’ve been reading and watching testimonials about DMT experiences which I think was the background of this dream.

Just woke up from a bad, bad dream...

Just woke up from a nightmare. I literally didn’t have time to even edit this, I just need to get this out.

A.I. reviewed The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising by Alexander Barnes and Christopher Preiman

I dreampt of a Reno 911 - The Office Crossover

Some might say I’ve spent too much time alone since the pandemic started, but this blog post may convince you that I haven’t spent damn near enough time in isolation.

The real meaning of "Prime Day"

“Early childhood trauma: the gift that keeps giving”

Now, that being said, there are two types of people reading this post; the ones who say “Sure, but what's that have to do with an 80’s cartoon?” and the ones who say “Finally someone said it! …

You may feel invisible in Silicon Valley

It’s easy to feel completely invisible in Silicon Valley. I don’t know how everyone else who’s looking for work during the pandemic is getting through it, but I’m remarked by how little things have changed for me, and that’s not a good thing…

Synchronicity

You know those times that have felt almost cosmically aligned? Those things that couldn't have been predicted or even planned? There is no such thing as coincidence, there is only synchronicity.

Phantasy Star Online (Original) for the Switch. What we've really been waiting for

… they’re just waiting for their fans to demand it…

My Covid-19 Fever Dream

A day after I wrote this I came down with symptoms of COVID-19

Look what I found

Originally posted on our old tumblr in january 2018, man have I lost weight since then. :P

The hearts and minds that have touched this

A lot of this journey has been feeling around in the dark and not knowing how to drive traffic to the series…

No Fate But What We Make

…This was originally a Facebook post from Dec 2012…

Deviant Rising Release Party!

Originally posted on our tumblr on Nov 14th 2017 - Two year anniversary of our launch!

The Great Crusade

Something interesting happened back in July 2018. A friend and I were out for an afternoon in Sausalito California…

Tales From The Amaranth Chronicles Volume 1

Our short stories are finally up on Amazon and Audible!

The Helix Network

“The Helix was created to revolutionize the way we communicate, connect, and share.”

Our First Comicon!

Yes, you read that right. The book has been out for nearly two years and we're just now getting on the Comicon bandwagon.

I have an accent!?

I was born and raised in sunny Santa Clara California; the same Santa Clara Steve Jobs started Apple Computers in and which is now home of the 49'niners football team.

Character Design: Captain Shard

Captain “Shard” of the United Planets of Earth ship: Enigma is tasked with carrying out U.P.E interests in the frontier.

"What we left behind"

Woke up yesterday morning to a Facebook notification from the "Suddenly Single Show" a podcast ran by a friend of mine whom I did an interview for back in January of 2019.