Influences

Where do I get my inspiration? Anywhere from anything, but the list below contains some of the things that have provided the greatest influence and inspiration.

Authors (in alphabetical order):

  • Isaac Asimov
  • Alexandre Dumas
  • Frank Herbert

Books (in no particular order):

  • The Three Musketeers (all three stories)
  • Dune (from Dune to Chapterhouse Dune)
  • The Robot and Foundation Novels
  • The Lord of the Rings (I read it in a single volume)
  • Ghost in the Shell (yeah, it’s several graphic novels)

Movies (in no particular order after #1):

  • The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
  • Ronin
  • Casino Royale (2006)
  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
  • Ghost in the Shell (and a couple movies)

Music (Albums in the order they pop into my head and some noteworthy songs):

  • Thick as a Brick – Jethro Tull
  • The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway – Genesis
    • The Cage
    • Anyway
  • Frances the Mute – The Mars Volta
  • Misplaced Childhood – Marillion
  • Welcome to Wherever You Are – INXS
  • Inner Mounting Flame – Mahavishnu Orchestra
  • Life in a Tin Can – The Bee Gees
    • I Saw a New Morning
  • The Rite of Spring (okay, it’s a ballet not an album) – Igor Stravinksy
  • Fire of Unknown Origin – Blue Oyster Cult
    • Vengeance (the Pact)
    • Veteran of the Psychic Wars
  • Oboe Concertos – Georg Philipp Telemann (okay, not an album either, but… they’re excellent)

(There are a lot more that I could mention: Duke (Behind the Lines, Duke’s Travels), Catfish Rising (Gold-Tipped Boots…), Crest of a Knave (Steel Monkey, Jumpstart), Imaginos (Astronomy, Blue Oyster Cult), Main Course (Nights on Broadway, Edge of the Universe), Shabooh Shoobah (The One Thing), De-Loused in the Comatorium (Inertiatic ESP), Thrak (Dinosaur), Clutching at Straws (Just for the Record). I guess I did mention some of them, but…)

Television (stream of consciousness order):

  • Battlestar Galactica (the re-imagined series)
  • Nowhere Man
  • Mission: Impossible
  • Page Eight
  • Ghost in the Shell (and a couple TV series)

I’ll post thoughts on individual influences and how they directly impact my work in The Word.

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