A love letter to a life-changing video game. Two years. That’s a long time to write a book. But it’s nothing when the book in question is so very, very important. Of all the books I’ve written (many), this is my most important. I'm a life-long gamer and a devoted thinker, and this book is the culmination of a life spent writing about video games both as essays & blog posts and as hundreds of visual essays, editorials, and comedy videos on YouTube. With Suddenly I was a Shark!: My Time with What Remains of Edith Finch, I feel like I've finally made a valid contribution to this world of video games that I love so much. About Suddenly I was a Shark! My Time with What Remains of Edith Finch. What Remains of Edith Finch was released in 2017 amid a gaming public that had largely already dismissed the…
Posts By Caleb J. Ross
Caleb began writing his sophomore year of undergrad study when, tired of the formal art education then being taught, he abandoned the pursuit in the middle of a compositional drawing class. Major-less and fearful of losing his financial aid, he signed up to seek a degree in English Literature for no other reason than his lengthy history with the language. Coincidentally, this decision not only introduced him to writing but to reading as well. Prior this transition he had read three books. One of which he understood.
Humans can’t live without AI. Our brains won’t let that happen.
Today is an exciting day. Today, I reveal the cover of my newest book, a book about my favorite video game of all time, What Remains of Edith Finch! I’ve worked on this book for the last two years. Of all the books I’ve written (many), this is my most important. I'm a life-long gamer and a devoted thinker, and this book is the culmination of a life spent writing about video games both as essays & blog posts and as hundreds of visual essays, editorials, and comedy videos on YouTube. With Suddenly I was a Shark!: My Time with What Remains of Edith Finch, I feel like I've finally made a valid contribution to this world of video games that I love so much. The release date is June 12th, 2023! Preorder Kindle version from Amazon (The paperback version will be available closer to the release date) Paid subscribers here on Substack…
Who needs better weapons in a video game? Decision-making is my power fantasy.
This book is my love letter to a game that has changed the way I live.
What's that thing for when you want to create something but you're afraid of the burden it might put on you once it has been created? Something something phobia?
How small can you make a thing and still have that thing be interesting?
I’ve been told throughout my life spent creating things (books, video games, YouTube videos, podcasts) that simplicity is a core ingredient of creative output. When a thing is simplified enough, when it’s abstracted to its core requirements, when the guardrails are robust and the lanes clearly defined, that’s when creativity tends to flourish.
I embrace the challenge, and in fact, when a thing is simplified, that’s when I discover an interest enough to justify the very act of creating. Not until all magic has been stripped away am I able to see the potential for magic.