when is speak like a privateer day?

( New Books 2008018-2008022: Vatta's War by Elizabeth Moon )

m is for matriarch

( New Books 2008023: The Man With The Golden Torc by Simon R Green )

the eternal masquerade

I was recently reminded that I'd yet to get a copy of Sufficiently Advanced – a role-playing game set in the far future. What interested me in the game is that it sounded like an interesting examination of transhuman cultures and their competing memes. I'll do a more in depth comment on the rules when I finish reading them, but meanwhile, like the Malkavians in Vampire, I found my spiritual home in The Eternal Masquerade civilization: The Masquerade derives its name from the custom of its citizens: to wear masks from the day they are born until the day they die. A person's children and lifemate will see their face, and occaisionally so will a lover or true friend, but no others. Far from simple pieces of wood or deramic, these masks are infused with nanotechnology and computer aids. Masqueraders dress in fantastic clothing, often with changing and shimmering colours. Robes are common in both genders, with flowing ribbons made to flutter in the wind (even if there is no wind). Masks can be simple affairs, or can be carved to look like demons, angels, or fantastic creatures. Some daring individuals even program their masks to look like human faces. Masqueraders are often emotional people, although not to the extreme that the Tao are. The Masquerade is a relatively free and tolerant civilization, with many modifications of human form and psyche available. Not all modifications are easily noticed, however, since flowing multicolored robes are the civilization's traditional outer garment. Using Nanotech to perform a scan of someone you meet is generally considered rude, so there is no easy way to know whether someone's enhanced. Masqueraders tend to be polite and formal when first meeting someone. The game looks very well done, with the Masquerade having abilities to support this lack of identity, or rather, the ability to take on and discard identities as easily as they change masks, and yet, still be themselves.