Shawn Michel de Montaigne
Biography
Writing has always been a part of my life, even from the time I was a young boy. There were periods, some of them stretching to several years apiece, when I didn’t write a thing. But I always returned to the art. I read lots, too. Rarely fiction, mind you, but moral philosophy, education, history, religion, politics, economics. My favorites: Erich Fromm, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Lao-tse, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ray Billington, David C. Korten, E.F. Schumacher, Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (my all-time favorite). I read the occasional science-fiction novel (Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven, Robert Heinlein, and Frank Herbert); I picked up my first fantasy book, The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks, when I was 19 and working in a tiny gas station booth and needing something to do with the long hours. But overwhelmingly nonfiction of the variety I listed above ruled my bookshelves and my thoughts, and does to this day.
If you'd like to read more about me, please go to ThePiertoForever.webs.com.
Where to find Shawn Michel de Montaigne online
Books
Shawn Michel de Montaigne’s tag cloud
Shawn Michel de Montaigne's favorite authors on Smashwords
Benjamin Chambers
Latest book:
The Unpleasantness on Praslin.
Published on March 24, 2012.
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C.A. Heifner
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CJ Hawk
Latest book:
Something To Talk About.
Published on May 30, 2012.
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Doug Welch
Latest book:
Shadow Spies.
Published on November 10, 2011.
(5.00 from 1 review)
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Ellis Weiner
Latest book:
Atlas Slugged AGAIN.
Published on April 19, 2011.
(4.86 from 7 reviews)
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Gordon Fischer
Latest book:
More travels and other salutory lessons.
Published on April 11, 2011.
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Kate Harper
Latest book:
You are More Likely to Get Shot than Have Your Book Stolen.
Published on May 26, 2011.
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
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Kathleen S. Allen
Latest book:
The Faerie Chronicles.
Published on December 9, 2011.
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Kyla Cardinalis
Latest book:
I Am the Answer: A Short Story of the Melody and the Pier to Forever Mythos.
Published on February 11, 2012.
(4.00 from 1 review)
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Mark Stewart
Latest book:
Legendary blue diamond.
Published on April 16, 2012.
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Raymond M. Towers
Latest book:
The Black Cellar.
Published on April 20, 2012.
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Smashwords book reviews by Shawn Michel de Montaigne
- The Reality Plague
on May 04, 2011
As I read this work, I kept thinking of the Borg, that superrace of galactic cogs intent on assimilating whole planets in a neverending effort to "perfect" themselves.
I also thought of The Matrix, one of my all-time favorite movies. This novella and The Matrix play with similar themes: computer-generated dystopia, the control of artificial intelligence over human choices, the abdication of so many--most--to machines and the suburban mundanity of their unlives, and the urge for a small few to break free and to resist. Welch plays with these themes with an expert hand, gives them a twist, and offers through his trained eye the very real and scary possibilities that The Matrix can't: that is, we aren't talking about the distant future here, but today, and now: the technologies are here: perhaps in their infancy, yes; but here they are.
And we should be very wary and even afraid of some of them. Even terrified.
Welch weaves a deep, despairing tactile-deprived sense of humanity into this story, so much so that at many points it's almost too painful to read on. Personally, I'd choose suicide over the "life" offered within these pages; I'd've checked out ages ago. I have no desire to try to save cattle; and I fear that authentic humans--those few who actually think and do and feel *for themselves*--are nearing extinction here, today, in this very real world, smothered under by the bovine indifference of billions. Look around! What do you see? People endlessly texting one another; people with those idiotic phone implants stuck in their heads; Facebook junkies with thousands of false friends; real-time surveillance of everything we do, everything we are. Geo-location software stuck in devices track absolutely everything we do, everywhere we go. And what's funny is this: the great herd of humanity thinks nothing of it!
Moooo!
Consider that while you read this story, and then read Welch's excellent Afterword, where he answers the silly critics of The Reality Plague and, frankly, makes them look even sillier.
I am affected enough by this story to say that a light reading of it will do you no good: consider that your life right now, today, is increasingly ordered and determined by machines. If you can do *that* lightly, then you're already lost. You're already one of the Borg.
An excellent read, this. Download it today and be entertained, be enlightened, and be frightened.
- You are More Likely to Get Shot than Have Your Book Stolen
on May 26, 2011
A reasonable and reasoned argument here, one all authors should read and keep in mind at all times.
I tire of the horror stories, and those who insist on grabbing me by my virtual shoulders and shaking me, screaming, "Copyright infringement! Aren't you SCARED it'll happen to YOU?" When I calmly shake my head, they regard me as though I'm nuts. I point them to Cory Doctorow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Doctorow) and his writings on Creative Commons and general copyright issues; but this makes no difference to these folks. Alarmism is the name of the game, and they've got a death grip on the bells.
Read this little e-book, folks. Get a grip already.
- Sail Beyond Tomorrow
on Aug. 23, 2011
This is a poignant tale of love, romance, and mysticism. Join Susan and Richard, and their respective parents Kathy and Nate as they sail beyond tomorrow! This book contains the depth of character development that is so often lacking in this genre. They aren't flat and two-dimensional; and I felt like I could really connect to them and learn from them.
Buy this book, and sail into the lives of people you'll genuinely end up caring about.
(C-posted B&N)
- Secrets of Successful Writers
on Feb. 08, 2012
This is a well-researched, easy-to-read ebook that I'd recommend to all aspiring authors. I enjoyed the interviews--especially those with authors who spoke about ebook publishing and marketing to an internet readership.
- The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success
on March 29, 2012
Mr. Coker has written a handy guide to those of us seeking a foothold along the path to ebook publishing success. It's concise, easy to read, and presented in a friendly, affable manner that demystifies much of the processes involved both in publishing an ebook and enjoying some success in the publishing game. Too, there are interesting factoids, graphs, and other forms of data that back up his thesis that today is the right time to become an author.
I cannot in good conscience give a full 5 stars for this ebook, sadly, as I feel very strongly that one of the authors Mr. Coker holds up as a positive example of success is anything but one; said author, I believe (as do many others), "games" the system in ways that does nothing but erode trust between readers and writers (or authors: there is a difference: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=352158648169334). To that end, Mr. Coker's late and brief discussion about defining one's own success falls rather flat and attains a whiff similar to the high school football coach who goes on and on about how everybody is a success if they just believe they are--but then only lets the best players on his team play. The speech reveals the speechmaker at that precise point.
Still, if you can stomach the praise lavished on said author (I almost couldn't, and had to decide if I wanted to press on with the book), you will find yourself illuminated, educated, and entertained.
