Welcome to Poets at War, a podcast documenting the brood of writers, where art, theology, philosophy, and fun beckon your ears.Today on the program, Joshua David Ling and Abby kick off the new year by catching up on holiday adventures, new creative setups, and the perils of online book orders. Joshua details his evolving philosophy on using AI for "iconography" rather than art, aiming to communicate ideas visually without competing with traditional artists.The conversation flows into a deep reflection on the legacy of the Inklings, the importance of building a lasting creative community, and the bittersweet story of their final meeting. This sparks a nostalgic tour through favorite childhood book series, from The Chronicles of Narnia to The Prydain Chronicles and lesser-known gems. The hosts then have fun deconstructing famous villains, debating who might be a better candidate for a "misunderstood hero" story than Gaston.To cap off the night, Abby shares a fantastic and atmospheric reading from the prologue of her new Norse-inspired fantasy novel, "The Dragon's Vein," and Brendan makes a late appearance to show off his latest miniature kitbashing project.You too can be a part of the brood of writers and Poets at War. Just visit https://JoshuaDavidLing.com/Discord to join.Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro: New Year, New Setups, and Narnia Woes00:04:35 - The Nature of AI Art and Iconography00:12:16 - Building a Legacy to Outlast the Inklings00:30:56 - A Tour of Favorite Childhood Books00:53:07 - Deconstructing Villains: From Gaston to Denethor01:08:45 - The Lost Art of Everyday Singing01:35:50 - Reading: The Prologue of "The Dragon's Vein"01:50:46 - Kitbashing Norse Wolf Riders01:54:25 - Outro