Nicole Silvester
Niko (short for Nicole) Silvester has what some might call a "learning addiction." She's got degrees in archaeology, folklore, writing and visual arts from both coasts of Canada and somewhere in between--subjects that have been referred to as "impractical" by people trying not to say "useless." As it turns out, though, learning in subjects impractical on most paths in life are endlessly useful to a writer.
Freelance writing is Niko's current "official" job, but she also does odd-job letterpress printing and hand-bound bookbinding on the side. She has had such jobs in the past as hotel chambermaid, florist's helper, slide library assistant and technician in a zooarchaeological comparative lab (where she did everything from data entry to skeletal preparation).
As a technophile, Niko's interests span history. Her first and truest love is books, which she considers to be some of the most brilliantly simple devices in existence. She also plays videogames, and earns a significant portion of her freelance income writing about the PlayStation Portable. You can read her videogame writing at About PSP.
Niko has been known as Nico, Nicole, and Nik. Most of her writing appears under the name "Niko Silvester" while her comics and art appear under the name "Nico." It made sense at the time.
Latest Articles
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Clay Tablets As Books
Some of the earliest recorded literature was set down on clay tablets. Though the form is not familiar today, it could be said that the first books were made of clay.
Oct 4, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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Art for the Afterlife
Egyptian tomb art wasn't just for decoration. It had a magical and religious function in the dead person's journey to the afterlife.
Sep 29, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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Relief, Raised and Sunken
Egyptian tomb art is not quite like the art we have today, where a single artist will create the whole piece. Instead, a different craftsman would complete each step.
Sep 29, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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Ramses II the King of Kings
Ramses II of Egypt was taller than any other Pharaoh, reigned longer, lived longer, and sired more children. He was truly deserving of his title "The Great."
Sep 22, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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Petroglyphs to Pictographs
While it can be argued that a cave painting is not a book, petroglyphs represent an important step in the development of the book as it is known it today.
Sep 22, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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On the Development of Letterpress Typefaces
The earliest typefaces were made to be almost indistinguishable from hand calligraphy, while "modern" type attempts to sever the connection to handwriting entirely.
Jul 28, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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On the Evolution of Movable Type
Gutenberg is usually thought of as the inventor of movable type, and he was an important figure, but interchangeable letters for printing actually existed much earlier.
Jul 28, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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The Destruction of Libraries in Sarajevo
The destruction of books as a way of trying to subjugate political opposition by striking at the cultural heart of a people is unfortunately not confined to the past.
Jul 14, 2009
- Nicole Silvester
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