The hottest World Building Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

The Summer Pitch Bible Part 1

slow motion multitasking • 1091 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Character design World Building Storytelling
  1. The idea for the show was born from homesickness and a desire to celebrate platonic friendship.
  2. The pitch bible creation process involved developing main characters like Oscar while maintaining personal attachment to original designs.
  3. The pitch bible layout included sections on show overview, characters, world-building, and episode ideas.

where the fire burns 2 | fiction

Tumbleweed Words • 3 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
⚔ Fiction Narrative Prose Character Study World Building
  1. The main character reflects on the pain of losing comfort and warmth in life. He misses simple joys like the taste of sugar and the affection of his loved ones.
  2. The story highlights the harsh reality of control and oppression, as the boy faces Law Enforcers who take away his job and freedom without remorse.
  3. There’s a sense of hopelessness and struggle, as the characters deal with their bleak surroundings, and the loss of a sense of community and safety.

Background for The Ingarie Files

Carefree Sketches • 59 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
📚 Literature Sci-fi Storytelling Fiction Writing World Building
  1. The Ingarie Files is a collection of stories that present a world set in a post-breakup Nigeria, featuring themes of espionage and cyborg soldiers.
  2. The narratives explore the intricacies of a fictional world through interconnected stories, essays, and reports, weaving a complex and immersive experience for the readers.
  3. The concept of THE INGARIE FILES acts as a jigsaw puzzle where each story piece enriches the depiction of the country across different time periods, offering a deep understanding of the setting.

The Domes of Calrathia

Trantor Publishing • 79 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
📚 Literature Fiction Storytelling Imagination Characters World Building
  1. Preparing for a dangerous journey involves seizing every advantage available, including acquiring knowledge and resources
  2. Exploring unfamiliar territories can reveal unexpected challenges and wonders, urging one to adapt and stay cautious
  3. Encounters with unique individuals can lead to unexpected gifts or insights, even if they challenge one's beliefs or perceptions
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12/04/24: Birria, and Biryani

Daydreams • 6 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
⚔ Fiction Narrative Characters Plot Themes World Building
  1. LaoLan has repositioned warships near Wintmill, signaling potential invasion plans. The situation is tense and requires immediate attention.
  2. The mysterious disappearance of a powerful weapon has left Wintmill's officials in the dark. Without knowing what it can do, it raises significant concerns about national security.
  3. There are psychological operations in play that manipulate communication and perception. Understanding these tactics is crucial to maintain clarity and response strategies.

Artificial intelligence and world building

World Game • 4 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence World Building Geopolitics Software Development Data Privacy
  1. AI is not just about creating smart apps; it's about building entire virtual worlds that can change our reality. This changes how we think about what intelligence really is.
  2. The recent success of the Chinese company DeepSeek shows that smaller companies can challenge big tech by making powerful AI accessible and affordable for everyone.
  3. The models we use, like AI, are shaped by their creators and can have hidden biases. This means the reality we see through AI is influenced by the values and choices of those who build them.

Passages of Time

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 03 May 24
🎭️ Culture Time World Building
  1. Our concept of time is a cultural construct, influenced by abstract measurements like clocks, which vary across different cultures.
  2. The development of abstract time in the West was linked to the rise of capitalism, leading to a disconnect from natural, cosmic time.
  3. Time plays a crucial role in societies, guiding activities like planting crops, religious rituals, and even warfare, reflecting differing cultural perceptions of time's passage.

Robots, Monks, & Tea

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
📚 Literature Fiction Science fiction Review World Building
  1. A Psalm for the Wild-Built explores a post-apocalyptic society where humans and robots coexist in a post-scarcity world.
  2. The novella follows Dex, a gender-neutral tea monk, on a journey into the wilderness to interact with awakened robots and reconnect with nature.
  3. Chambers' book offers a hopeful and introspective look at human needs, consciousness, and the importance of emotional connection, with balanced world-building that doesn't overwhelm the reader.