Speaking of Names

Spring is the worst-named season, right? That word means too many things. Fall has the same problem, but we can fall back on autumn there. Ver isn't as effective since it may not be registered as a word when we try to popularize it. I think we're gonna have to go French on this one, fellas.

Addendum

Though the fact that all three of those are last names might contribute. Reginald Ashton Smith, Ashton Reginald Smith, Smith Ashton Reginald . . . nope, still carries the same feeling.

Name Recognition

If, tomorrow, you were to awake in a world in which Clark Ashton Smith's name had become Smith Ashton Clark, would you even notice? How about Ashton Clark Smith? Ash Clarkton Smith? But if somebody claimed his favorite science fiction author was Asimov Isaac, you'd grab the nearest gun and start shooting. Here we see the particular properties of triple names as opposed to double.

Addender

Of course what we all really want is one of those Inspector Gadget books. How did a little girl and a dog get that anyway? Theft? Misappropriation of funds? Aliens? The Greatest American Hero aliens?

Addendum

Most enticingly, instead of a blurb about the book bought from some author whose name has never before crossed your desk, you can get coverplates with blurbs about you, the reader. ". . . immaculate taste . . ." is one example, or how about, "If you have to be read by one person this year, make it this one?"

Merchandizer Go

Remember Xbox 360 faceplates? Let's make those but for books. It's not like cover art is any good, so we might as well replace it with an R2-D2 or a flaming skull.

Battle Statue War Record

Year 1
"I have succeeded in animating a statue capable of replicating any human action while being tireless and hardy beyond flesh. Soon legions of battle statues will humble my neighboring wizard-kings, just so soon as I produce a sufficient force."

Year 3
"The quarrying is going well. My menial statues are superior to human workers when properly supervised. Of course I must hire competent supervisors, but money is easily at hand; a portion of the yield can be sold abroad."

Year 7
"By now, half the carriage drivers in the region are my statues, except in those city-states which prohibit them. Don't they know battle statues and the menial type are completely different? But then, how could they? Only I know the secret. Unfortunately, current designs lack the delicacy required for fruit-picking, but the stevedores are coming along excellently."

Year 28
"For now I have delegated governance and research in favor of training new sculptors, though I am unsure I will resume those pursuits afterward. My current interests lean more toward selecting personnel for the proposed branch offices and ensuring the materials for my new mansion justify the asserted prices. Lately I have had a feeling of neglecting some plan, but it would be more surprising if such were not the case. My conceptions are endless, and despite how the payroll has grown, I have never been busier. I can barely find time to add to this journal, let alone read it. Perhaps I should hire someone, but anyone competent is needed for a dozen roles of greater importance."
Finis

Addendum

A major factor will be if the ships dock at a planet, an orbital station, or neither, instead sitting in deep space and receiving their passengers from shuttles. In the case of the station, probably a plain exterior will be demanded by the port authority, but in the third case, presenting customers with an awesome view during their approach will be advisable.

It's Never Too Early to Start Planning

When we have big interstellar cruise liners, will it be worth it to paint the exterior, or will people not care about the part they can't see? Or will they see it through drones set up so there can be races on the hull for gambling purposes, given that in space, anything goes? Only market research can determine the truth.

New Formatting

At the end of each chapter in the book, there should be a page for the chapter MVP. Was the choice based on total kills, highest XP gain, or something subjective? The readers will enjoy arguing about it as they endeavor to figure it out. The truth is that it's based on what the artist felt like drawing.