I admit, this entry was inspired by the most recent in a series of articles about science fiction getting 'real' as opposed to being fantasy with science fiction trappings (I'm looking at you NPR). But I think this really harkens back the old hard SF versus "soft" SF versus using SF as a literary mode… Continue reading My Science Fiction Can Beat Up Your Science Fiction
Category: General Thoughts
Gonzo Science Fiction
Taking a break from my NaNoWriMo work and preparing for an insane series of trips in the near future (by which I mean 3 hours from now) , I wanted to take a moment to roll an idea over, and see if I could get it to shine: Gonzo Science Fiction. No, it does not… Continue reading Gonzo Science Fiction
Pandora Sands, or the Dream Author
I still remember standing in the doorway of the bookstore. Blue carpet stretched out under my feet. Above me, the sandy stone archways of the former cathedral now supported chandeliers and signs and at least one wooden ship with brass fittings and a golden sails. Ten foot tall bookshelves made from old oak mingled with… Continue reading Pandora Sands, or the Dream Author
Dialog or Get the Chatter Down
I've been thinking about my process for building scenes and crafting prose. Slowly, I'm admitting to myself I go for dialog above description. If a building needs to appear in the story, my first instinct is to have the characters talk about the building. ("Huh. Your apartment looks like the one from Ghostbusters." "What, the… Continue reading Dialog or Get the Chatter Down
August and Ever After
August was a long, and yet short, month. Personal items kept me from updating this blog and reviewing some of the thoughts I dredged up at the end of July. It was one of those months when I said, "Aside from a compulsion, why am I doing this? Why am I trying?" The answer is… Continue reading August and Ever After
Ten Women – And the Future (#TenWomenAuthors)
There is a hashtag trending - #TenWomenAuthors - whereupon folks name ten women authors who've inspired and amazed. I thought I'd add my ten in this article. Now, I could just keep adding and adding, but I've picked ones which had a particular influence on me in one way or another as I was exploring… Continue reading Ten Women – And the Future (#TenWomenAuthors)
The Truth Revealed – thanks to Garth Marenghi
I admit, I was sucked in. A sheeple lead to the slaughter. But my eyes were opened by the brilliance of this man- Garth Marenghi: It was here, in the awful light of his amazing literary talent, that I realized the Puppy campaigns were right all along. Why has a grand literary talent such… Continue reading The Truth Revealed – thanks to Garth Marenghi
Embrace the Weird
Last year, my fiancee and I watched True Detective with rapt attention. The mix of two outstanding performances by Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, the multiple levels of mystery and the deeply embedded sense of weirdness caught us right away. That very first episode, the Lynchian images of the first serial killer victim said we… Continue reading Embrace the Weird
Red as Blood: Memories of Tanith Lee
Tanith Lee passed away on May 24th, 2015. I first learned this news very early on the morning of the 26th, while looking through my Facebook feeds. My heart shrunk back in my chest. I nearly burst out into tears, but the presence of even a few co-workers forced me to keep my workaday mask… Continue reading Red as Blood: Memories of Tanith Lee
Snow Warm as Toast
I will have more later. Right now, though, I'm writing a sentence which pains me: Tanith Lee has passed away. Now, to muddle through this work day with a smiling mask.
Biomechanoid Blues 