Alastair Swinnerton

Recently Alastair Swinnerton published this blog, which is a must read ofr any Bionicle fan. Bionicle – my actual part in its origins – Alastair Swinnerton

There’s quite a lot of interesting information in this. Something I found particularly interesting was that he claims to have come up with the idea of the Mata Nui Robot, when in Brick by Brick I recall Christian Faber claiming to come up with the concept.

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I honestly don’t believe that he created the GSR at most he may have helped.

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He claims credit for quite a lot of things;

  • Tahu, Gali, Lewa, Onua
  • ‘The Bible’ of Bionicle
  • The Story
  • The Location
  • The choice to use the Maori Language
  • The Mata Nui robot
  • The Bohrok story
  • The Toa Nuva story
  • The core story for Mask Of Light
  • The Seventh Toa

It seems like he’s asking for credit for a lot of things, regardless as to whether he deserves it or not, its difficult to really believe without an official word from Lego. If he is not after claiming royalties or anything like that, then it should be a matter of simply getting someone from Lego to comment on the situation.

Though part of me questions, why now? Is it because Bionicle is back that he was reminded of what he worked on? Either way, its going to be a complicated matter to resolve.

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It’s interesting story, but he has credited himself to a lot of things, and I’ve never heard of him.

Scar sums it up. Even if he really come up with all of that, how come I’ve never heard of him. Either I am just ignorant, or he isn’t quite as important as he says he is. Either way, interesting story.

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Uh, sorry,

who?

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He’s the Bootleg Christian Faber.

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how specific,

I meant who is he in relation to his work, what has he actually done?

because I’ve never heard of the guy.

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Looks like his story checks out from what I see.
Based on other sources he co-created Bionicle.

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not to be rude to the guy, but the fact he waited 15 years to try to take credit feels kind of attention seeking to me.

he’s basically taking credit for the entirety of bionicle.

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I’m not denying he helped create Bionicle. What I’m skeptical about is how much of what he claims is his work is his work.

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This is really interesting because its really rare to see people who took part of Bionicle when it first released.:slight_smile:

It could be attention seeking.
But his background checks out.

I don’t know if this helps.
Based on the sources.
He was responsible for the Current Bionicle G1 Story Bible and expanding it.

Interesting.

Okay, I’m gonna have to flip the Venom switch for this one.

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What the hey, guys. I’m calling bootleg on this. This is way more bootleg than anything I’ve seen.

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Okay, he might be telling the truth, it just seems unlikely. I mean, why wait all these years? Maybe someone could somehow contact Christian Faber and ask him…

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What sources? Also, there’s still the fact that his claims contradict claims made by Faber.

I don’t know why you guys doubt him. He’s the real deal. There was actually an old TTV debate regarding Mr. Swinnerton and his writing of the original story bible that’s kinda funny, but unrelated.

Granted, there are a few things that are unusual. The Mata Nui robot does seem to be a contradiction. However, I dunno about anything else, honestly.

And as to why he’s doing this now, it’s because he’s releasing a new book of his, and word of it has been circulating throughout Bionicle fanbase channels such as the BS01 and BZPower twitter feeds.

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So.

I’m ignorant. Great. Thanks Eljay.

Like I said, I’m not doubting he did do a lot of those things. I’m just confused about the contradictions.

His name just got smothered under the years and other people. Not a matter of being ignorant, just his name not being mainstream like Greg Farshtey’s or Christian Faber’s.

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Christian Faber was a Artist for Bionicle.
Alastair Swinnerton was a Author for Bionicle.

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