starbreaker.org

Introduction

Hello. 👋 I’m Matthew. This is my personal website.

The domain name — and the name of the science fantasy saga I started writing in 1996 — was inspired by an old Judas Priest song. It is also the name of a now-defunct hard rock band, a 1970s DC supervillain, a superweapon from Stephen Baxter’s Xeelee Sequence, a 1994 PC-Engine JRPG by RayForce that never got localized, and a progression fantasy web serial that did not appeal to me.

And if all of that was too much, buckle up. I only get worse from here.

Where to Start?

starbreaker.org has a variety of slash pages that may be of interest to visitors.

• This website is now searchable if you have JavaScript enabled on your device.
• You can read /about me if you’re curious.
• I publish /fiction inspired by heavy metal and prog rock, as well as fiction by the likes of Michael Moorcock and Catherine Lucille Moore.
• I also have a /blog with something to offend everyone. I usually call it a /grimoire instead because that sounds more metal. My grimoire is also browseable by /topics.
• I also have a /scratch page for random jottings, some of which eventually end up in the grimoire.
• I have begun collecting the artwork I used here in a /gallery page.
• Want to subscribe? Here’s how to /follow me.
• My /now page is now a monthly web /zine.
• In addition to raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, and women in black with red satin sashes, this /starterpack has a few more of my favorite things.
• You might be interested in some of my /downloads.
• If you want to get in touch, try my /contact page. It’s much safer than drawing a summoning circle, even if I am in fact Rosemary’s Baby but had been switched at birth. (The last person to try this traditional approach straightened a line that should have remained curved. They became a chew toy for the Hounds of Tindalos. So it goes.)
• You can also /verify my online identities and see where else I can be found.
• I also have a /guestbook, if you want to party like it’s 1999.
• If I was single and inclined to mingle, my /dating page would be more detailed.
• Even if was single and couldn’t get a date, I still have plenty of /interests to keep me busy.
• I maintain a /blogroll, as used to be de rigeur among independent bloggers.
• You might be interested in my /bookmarks if you’re looking for particular posts or articles to read.
• I’ve also got a list of sites to /avoid, because knowing what sucks — or at least having an opinion — is also part of a curator’s work.
• If you’re curious about the tech behind this website, my /colophon may prove worthwhile.
• If you’re building your own website, I provide a /test page so that you can see how my stylesheet works.
• If you are concerned about people using /AI on their websites, I might be able to allay your concerns in my case.
• If you’re more interested in the /why than the how, I’ve got you covered.
• Curious about what sort of tech I use in daily life? That’s why I have a /uses page
• I have a /wish list, but it isn’t for gifts others might give me that I can buy for myself.
• I have a /nope page for stuff I would prefer not to do. Conversely, there’s also a /yep page for stuff I’m willing to do.
• If you want it darker, check out my /testament page to see what plans I’ve made for this site after I’m no longer around to operate it.
• Finally, this /sitemap will always be available for you. Look for a link at the bottom of every page.

Offline Reading

If you want to read starbreaker.org offline, I’ve tried to make it reasonably easy. The entire website is available as a UNIX tape archive compressed with XZ utils version 5.6.4. You can open this on any computer, and it will create a directory called website/. Open that directory, double-click on index.html, and enjoy.

Do you have a Mac, or a machine running GNU/Linux or BSD, and are comfortable with the terminal and programming tools? You can also clone my website’s repository, pull updates whenever you like, and build a copy of my website by using the makefile. This may help with archival or non-commercial mirroring.

Supporting the Real Web

Never mind social media. Got a personal website or blog? I’ll read that. Just send me the URL. Details are in my grimoire: “I’ll Read It”.

Need help leaving social media? Check out Unplatform.

If you want to build your own website and want help, or just want to talk with other people doing the same, then visit 32bit.cafe.

Webrings

My website is part of the following webrings.

• ← an IndieWeb Webring 🕸💍 →
• ← Hotline Webring →
• ← Fediring →
• ← ... Loop Ring ? →
• ← Retronaut Webring →
• Melonland Surf Club  ? 
• Static.Quest ← View Members → 🎲

If you want to add me to your own webring, and it doesn’t depend on JavaScript, please email me.

Disclaimers & Content Warnings

Please bear in mind the following while visiting: Non serviam. Caveat lector. Hic svnt leones.

Being a personal website, starbreaker.org is inherently NSFW. I reserve the right to publish any speech protected under the First Amendment in the United States, even if it is indecent, offensive, blasphemous, or outright illegal in other jurisdictions.

I make liberal fucking use of profanity here, especially in my fiction and rants. All opinions published here are my own unless attributed to somebody smarter, and not representative of my employers’ views or those of their clients and partners. Nothing published here should be considered factual unless independently verified. My fiction is not suitable for readers unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality or understand that an author might not condone everything they depict in their work. Children under 13 should not visit this website without adult supervision. This is your only warning.

I run this website at my own expense, and for my own pleasure. If you are not entertained, remember that since you did not pay for access you got more than you paid for. If you must make known your displeasure, you can dial my complaint line at 1-800-B-DAMNED. Exploited operators in the Global South are waiting to summarily dismiss you.