I'm a reader not a writer. I would weave tales if I could but stories and music sate my addictions and always have. A good story offers far bigger and deeper experiences than almost any film can ever display. Growing up I would spend the night reading incredible biographies, animal stories, fairy tales, westerns, mysteries and occasionally comic books. The lure to simply stay up all night reading is still only overcome with difficulty, as stories are like C.S. Lewis's "Wood Between the Worlds", a glorious respite from reality, or perhaps offer perspective, or spice it with humor.

So, to those who write and bring to life amazing universes populated with incredible personalities and fabulous creatures; all I can say is "thank you"!

Note: VVC's FF page; One of the very best HP Fanfics I've ever read: (Secrets by Vorabiza at http://)

Err, (cough, cough) if anyone felt impelled to write fan-fiction about the Black Company. I keep having brief glimpses of an awesome story involving the Taken, set during the Pastel Wars every time I hear the lyrics "I Set Fire to the Rain". Perhaps the backstory to ShapeShifter's staff?

Other, more serious stories I really enjoyed from very different sites:

"I want to tell you a story today. A sprawling epic mess of a story which began with two histories intersecting awkwardly just over a hundred years ago in a small tribal village nestled in the dense forests of one of the richest mining regions of the world. It is the kind of story that has multiple obscure beginnings but no ending."

"The old man stamped his boot in the red dirt, kicking up a tiny cloud of dust. “There’s a new sheriff in town,” he told them.

“No, I’m pretty sure that’s impossible,” says Parmenides. “There’s no such thing as change, only the appearance thereof.”

“Well then,” says the old man, “I reckon you won’t mind the false illusion of your surroundings appearing to change into a jail cell.” And he took out his six-shooter and held it steady."