Feb 28, 2016

Origin of the Book: The general idea for Pixilated Obsidian Roses came out of my learning to play chess, almost 20 years ago. In order to learn the movements of each piece around the board, I would often play against myself—a black piece one moment and a white piece the next.

However, as I progressed in my understanding of the game, I came to find that there was no way either side could defeat the other. Because I was one person playing both sides, I began to notice that there was simply no way that I could act in the interest of only one side.

For example, as I would plan a move by black against white, I would realize that, subconsciously, I was already planning a counter move by white and that in turn affected my thought process in my current move by black. It felt almost schizophrenic. As a result, these solitary games would always end in a stalemate, if they even got that far.

From out of this, I began to imagine the spirit of a man that had been divided against itself at death and the only way that he could find peace in the afterlife would be to defeat his opponent, which would ultimately negate himself. However, as I learned through my solitary chess experience, every move that one side makes will, in essence, serve the opposing side. Thus both sides are locked in a stalemate.

Twenty years later, I have decide to put these ideas to paper.