These posts explore the ideas, retro sci-fi, and personal events that shaped the novels' universe.
“The hardest battles are fought in the mind.” — Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
“Now it was hers to take back in the delivery ship she affectionately named the Amaranth, to a place far away from where she grew up. A place called San Francisco.” - The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising
Nova Parallax isn’t just about surviving the unknown—it’s about what you bring back with you. Creatures. Radiation. Survival. Not just horror for its own sake, but horror that reflects what it feels like to be trapped and fight your way out.
"It is the unknown that defines our existence. We are constantly searching, not just for answers to our questions, but for new questions."
This morning, I had one of the most vivid and intense dreams I’ve ever experienced. Before I was diagnosed with Astrocytoma, I used to have vivid dreams all the time—but this was the first one I’ve had since going through treatment three years ago.
It’s thrilling to be part of that transformation, whether through UX design, sci-fi storytelling, or AI development.
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.
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.
The journey with Astrocytoma, including AI-assisted and reflections on the fragility of the brain and the afterlife.
Mini-Stroke Survival: How AI and a Touch of Star Trek Guided Me Back to Health. We’re in a strange new world.
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.
Just had an out-of-this-world experience because of Astrocytoma. If it weren't for the photos, no one would believe me!
“Be a positive energy trampoline – absorb what you need and rebound more back.” — Dave Carolan
“There is nothing more complicated than perception.” ATRX - IDH1 - TP53 - And their strange mutations.
“Mortality gives meaning to human life. Love, friendship, these are precious because we know they cannot endure.” -Data
“But whatever the meaning and purpose of this universe, you are a legitimate part of it.” - Gene Roddenburry
“It is possible that the future may not be in the hands of the scientists, as we often believe. It may well be in the hands of communicators.” - Gene Roddenburry
I’m not sure what to think about how long I’m going to live now. Not sure I will live a normal length of life and might have to pray for only a decade or two. I’ve heard some horror stories online about…
This has been the darkest week of my life. Sunday night I had a seizure and was admitted to Kaiser. They performed a CT scan and saw…
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…
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…
I was inspired to revisit the origins of everyone’s favorite dark elf ranger, Drizzt Do'Urden…
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…
Artemis Fowl is many things, a Genius, a very rich man, a criminal mastermind, and oh right, twelve. When his father, Artemis Fowl the first, made some…
"It was a UFO!" some exclaimed. But within my family, raised on a diet of "Star Trek" and the hopeful idealism of the 60s, there was no room for fear, only curiosity.
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.
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
Just woke up from a nightmare. I literally didn’t have time to even edit this, I just need to get this out.
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After more than 20 years of creating 3D characters, I tried something new. I used AI to push my renders into “photorealism”. The results weren’t perfect, but they changed how I think about the creative process.