This is my cat...
...and this is me.
Hello!
I'm Alex!
My hobbies include:
reading, gaming,
acting, swimming,
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and drinking entirely too much tea!
You may already have guessed that I have a cat.
But what you don't know is that I didn't always want to write for games.
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​I spent my young life utterly obsessed with prehistory. And I really do mean obsessed - little me had his heart absolutely set on becoming a palaeontologist. This is an interest I've retained throughout my life - perhaps you can see the influence in Pendul's Bestiary! It wasn't for a lack of ability that this goal didn't come to fruition. I've had a strong education, with A levels in Biology, Computer Science and Maths from Reading School. Palaeontology was my number one target for a major part of my life, so I'm fascinated by the natural world, with a strong scientific grounding.
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But I eventually decided that I was happier pursuing a creative career. I'd been neglecting my other interests - writing was always something I enjoyed, achieving extremely high grades throughout my school career, but it was hardly a major passion of mine. To be honest, there was no grand revelation. Coming to study at Falmouth University, beginning to take myself and my writing seriously... Before I knew it, I was absolutely smitten. There's nothing in the world I'd rather do than write.
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Abandoning a long-held dream and pivoting my entire life was a period of intense self-discovery for me. Five years ago, I would never have imagined where I'd be today. Who knows what the next five will bring?
Graah!
Throughout my life, I've been enamoured by stories. Now I want to give something back.
Here are some of my most special memories!
The Mousehole Cat was one of the books my mother used to read to me. A bit more recently than that, I spotted the gorgeous 30th anniversary edition in a shop window, and there was nothing I could've done to stop myself from buying it!
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​This heartfelt book is a stunning reminder of the uplifting value of art to a story. The cohesion between Nicola Bayley's timeless artwork and Antonia Barber's powerful characterisation creates something that is truly much greater than the sum of its parts.
Cave Story, ironically, is not necessarily known for its story. There are some extremely effective, heart-rending moments here, but for me the real wonder is how much the game withholds about its world.
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What is the Island's history? What does the surface look like? We don't know. Absurd elements are handled so effortlessly that they feel entirely natural. Why shouldn't you hatch eggs with a password?
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The far bounds of Cave Story's reason drive the imagination absolutely wild. I try to emulate this in my own writing.
The Earthsea Cycle is a much more recent addition to my library. Ursula K. Le Guin was already one of my favourite authors, and the enchanting storytelling and rich mysteries of Earthsea have propelled her deservedly into the number one spot.
I was baffled to discover that Tales from Earthsea and The Other Wind had not received similar reprints! Though it was written much later, to my mind, the final novel is an essential closing chapter.
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My favourite book of Earthsea is Tehanu.
Xenoblade Chronicles is the game that saved me during lockdown. It boasts a magical and unabashed blend of fantastical and science fiction elements which feels perfectly formulated to woo me in particular. This series is remarkable for a plethora of reasons, but most important to me are its deeply inventive worlds, unmatched scene choreograhy, and masterful character work.
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There is an amazing depth of symbolism here which builds on and plays off of the commentary of the older games. I had a tough time picking between this and Xenogears!
Terry Pratchett's glorious satirical wit has kept me coming back and back again to Discworld over the years. These books form a sort of backbone to my reading, and it'll be upsetting to eventually reach the end! But by then, I'm sure the Colour of Magic will be beckoning once more...
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This world is so absurdly, deeply imagined that its cast is more believable than most real people I know. A supremely funny, supremely meaningful and forever relevant series that I'll never get enough of.
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And the theatrical adaptations are always a real treat!
There is always more to Hollow Knight. Even for someone like me, who has possibly played a little more of this game than he reasonably should have, the wealth of intricate detail and language buried in the world of Hallownest continue to offer new interpretations. For me, the real strength of Hollow Knight's writing is in its mighty vocabulary. I wish more games read like this!
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​I'm actually thinking of writing my final year essay on this game - or more accurately its upcoming sequel, Silksong, and the effects of insurmountable expectations on game development. Maybe that'll be here soon?
Northern Lights was first gifted to me by my primary school teacher in year 6. And what a present! Philip Pullman's formidable prose has become a permanent fixture of my imagination in the years since. I've read this wonderfully bittersweet trilogy again and again, each time moved, each time tumbling ever further down into its deep well of meaning.
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The Books of Dust are superb follow-ups, particularly The Secret Commonwealth. I eagerly - very eagerly - await the third and final book.
There's something about this game... Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia... that irrevocably impacted the way my brain works when I was younger. I have never yet seen a game with more heart or a greater flair for self-deprecating humor. Never do I expect to find a running gag more incredibly comic than "a smidgeon on the tight side".
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Almia - and the wider Pokémon franchise - have forever been favourites of mine. This series holds such broad appeal, and at its best the character work and worldbuilding can be extremely effective. Once again, the many secrets of these worlds propel them above and beyond. What good is a story if it doesn't inflame the imagination?
