Hogwarts’ Harry and Other Pics
Hogwarts School and Harry Potter don’t actually appear in any of my “game writer on vacation” photos, but there is a connection, as you’ve probably already noticed.
So I’ve decided to jump the gun and throw up a top five of the photos I took in London and Paris, with five more to come shortly.
Notice the devious writing trick I used — the non-commital “a top five” rather than “my top five photos” or (heaven forfend!) “the top five photos.” Not really a game writing trick, per se; more of a legalistic way to avoid saying anything definitive.* These are just five photos that I like, for various reasons.
* I recently read an interview with one of my English profs, Nancy Packer, who lambasted the semi-colon. She said it’s the language’s ugliest punctuation mark, and that one should use dashes instead. Punctuation passion!
Sorry about the dorky watermark. I’m submitting these to some stock photo agencies and I don’t want slimeballs leeching these.
Was amazed to stumble upon this college courtyard in Cambridge. This isn’t even one of the heavy hitters like King’s College; this is one of the minor colleges. I wish my university dorm looked like this. Ready for a brisk game of Quidditch!
By the way, Quidditch is the most ridiculous game in creation. It’s clear that J.K. Rowling isn’t much for game design. She can write the crap out of candy and sweets, though, I’ll grant her that.
You might recognize this structure. Hint: Paris.
Brick apartments in Swanage on the Dorset coast.
Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Monument.
Hopital de Les Invalides. Napoleon is buried in the cathedral whose gilded dome you can see up top.
Hope you — Harry Potter fans, science fiction readers, and otherwise — enjoyed these ramblings. More soon.
