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11 July 2023

The FWS 13th Anniversary and a Big Announcement

 

On a hot day in 2010, I published my first blogpost on this site, giving birth to Future War Stories. For half of the operational life of FWS, big topics were researched, articles published, and I even got a book deal (and it died)…and then my life changed when I started teaching. For the second half of FWS, the articles got better, but the pace slowed and my mental health crumbled as my jobs came and went. Some of the darkest years of my life were there and I nearly did not survive them as I battled with thoughts of a grim nature. In the last 18 months, the pace of FWS publishing has been sloth slow. This is in part to my last job and my current job needing much attention that caused me to look to playing more video games (Destiny 2) for relaxation rather than reading or writing. I am coming to the cold hard realization that FWS, in its current form, cannot continue. The traffic and views are terrible.  That is my fault and I should have converted FWS over to a YouTube channel years ago...but lack of space, time, money, and talent prevented me from that critical juncture. Times have changed in 13 years. With the ease of other media forms on the internet have caused the downfall of more traditional websites and especially blogs. While FWS was never a "blog" in the true sense of the word, it is hosted on Blogger. That is one of the issues. Blogger is dying and Google seems not to want to support it anymore. There have been a number of issues that are not being fixed or addressed. 

It is time for a change. 

Currently, there are two article topics on this cycle that are various levels of production and I want to finish them in the current form of FWS. And then...I will be launching the FWS Podcast. Yep, a podcast. How original. Now, this is an experiment. I have written 10 scripts based on some of the best articles on military sci-fi topics within the FWS inventory along with an introductory podcast on military science fiction in general. I will NOT be shutting down the blogger site and will use it to link to the FWS Podcast along. The struggle currently is how to translate the research and presentation of FWS articles to an audio format. I have been on a few podcasts over the years along with some work in narration for my previous job. I have recorded a few test podcasts and it seems to works. 

Then the big question: what if this podcast fails? Then we do to Pan B and I launch a website and continue the articles on my own site until the sun burns out. I just cannot see with my current situation and life that shooting videos would be possible. Maybe one day. I will keep everyone posted on the progress of the FWS Podcast and I hope that you lend me your ears when it launches. 

In closing...I wish to thank everyone that has read, commented, and shared the work done here. FWS has directly impacted my life and the wider world of Military Sci-Fi. I wish to give big and warm thank you to Yoel and Duke for their impressive help. I could not have done with without you and you are kings among men. 

Have a Better One and Stay Frosty...FWS Will Continue. 

27 comments:

  1. Awesome, keep us posted!

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  2. You have done brillant work in the field of MSF, there is no better source of information on the web. Please keep your health and well being at the forefront of everything, we can wait if you wish to continue. I, for one, would relish a podcast and will look forward to it when it comes. Many thanks for everything. Neil.

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  3. Cool, would love to listen to the podcast when its out!

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  4. Hell yes!!! Cannot wait

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  5. Thanks for what you do!

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  6. I have loved your work. I still like the articles you have written over a podcast. There is just something special about reading a the dissection of a topic.

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  7. Personally I would have preferred you to continue writing new articles, but the podcast sounds like an interesting idea. Wish you the best on this venture.

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  8. As time has passed with new responsibilities and competing interests that require my time and attention I never visit this site as much as I should.

    None the less I always appreciated your work and look forward to whatever else to come from this podcast. It is certainly a niche I am sure you can fill quite handily.

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  9. Hope FWS doesn't die down. Destiny 2 is a decent game. But first thing is your mental and physical health so I hope you stay safe

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  10. In these times of Youtube et al. and podcasts, I came to enjoy the "oldschool" FWS format even more. But I will certainly give the podcast a listen. Best of luck!

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  11. This website is so great, Cheers!

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  12. Love learning more this topic.

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  13. Extremely helpful! thanks a lot

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  14. Yo, I don't read the blog as much as I did before, but I still remember how I found the site long long time ago through google image search for space-based railguns! I am personally not a podcast guy and enjoy sitting down and reading something, the thing is I rarely have enough time to focus on that these days. I hope whatever you come up with bears results, and maybe I will try the podcasts as well!

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  15. Been reading you since 2010! What a journey this has been. My life is also in a new cycle of sorts and as I read this article, which I actually read way back but had not commented on it, I realize how much I will be missing your blog, but I am happy to know that you are making a podcast. I will definitely check them out and stay informed. Stay frosty, FWS.

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  16. I have just discovered your Blog and I must say that it´s amazing!

    I know that you are against videos, but maybe consider the Shorts form of video content (as horrible as it sounds) as it takes less resources and generates considerable exposure. I know turning hard-written articles into a minute long clip doesn't sound attractive, but if you link your podcast or this blog to it, it could be of help generating the initial exposure to your quality content.

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  17. This whole place is a labour of love, and ot shows! I keep returning here to clarify my mind, search for info and have a good time. Thank you so much!

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  18. thanks to this page I have seen and learn a lot, I always come here to learn some military scifi stuff. sad to see it end but I wish you the best for the podcast and if you plan to go youtube someday that be awesome

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  19. Thank for making and spending your precious time for this useful information.

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  20. Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it.

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  21. It truly useful & it helped me out much.

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  22. Greate article. Keep writing such kind of info on your page. Im really impressed by it.

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  23. This is also a very good post which I really enjoyed reading.

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