The other day when I was unpacking my collection of Asimov’s and Analog magazines, it occurred to me that I’d never submitted a story to either, and I couldn’t think of a single good reason for this. So I did. Why not? The worst that can happen is that it gets rejected, in which case I’ll try again with another story. Should it be accepted, … Continue reading I’ve submitted a story to Asimov’s
As someone with lifelong nerdy interests, I feel qualified to speak on this issue. It’s not an attack, just an observation. A significant portion of the “community,” especially those into science fiction, are shockingly rigid and literal in their thinking. The people I’m speaking of could see a beautiful painting of an alien landscape with a spaceship soaring overhead, and the first thing that comes … Continue reading The problem with nerds
I’ve just moved into a new house. I spent fourteen hours yesterday hauling the rest of my stuff from the old house, and in the back of my closet I discovered a six-page brainstorming session from my, eh… younger days that eventually became the short story With New Eyes. Years later, I discovered that said short story and my epistolary “Time Remaining” blog went together … Continue reading Effugium: Beginnings
Remember when Guitar Hero popularized Dragonforce and everyone treated them like some kind of novelty band playing retro music? In reality, they’re one of probably several thousand bands belonging to the very popular (outside the U.S) subgenre of metal called “Power Metal.” The music is over-the-top, characterized by hyperspeed tempos, neoclassical guitar shredding and operatic vocals. The term “Power Metal” was tossed around a lot … Continue reading Ultimate Power Metal playlist
In the ’90s, there was a moratorium on even saying the word “metal” in the mainstream music press. They called it “hard music” if they even bothered to address it. People said it was dead. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact, it was thriving. Record labels like Earache, Nuclear Blast, Relapse, Peaceville, Season of Mist, Roadrunner and others, all names synonymous(at … Continue reading ‘90s Metal playlist
In Effugium , an organic computer network designed by eccentric tech billionaire Richard Kryuss as a sustainable alternative to the internet becomes self-aware and decides that human beings present a danger to the bees that pollinate the vegetation it requires to propagate itself. It’s prohibited from simply killing them, however. Long story short, it places nearly the entirety of humanity in stasis, awaiting approval from … Continue reading Exitium
I went to bed at 11:37 PM on December 31st, 2021. Not being much of a partier, that wasn’t entirely atypical of me on a New Year’s Eve. Besides, it didn’t really seem like there was all that much to celebrate. I’m not much of a dreamer, either, but boy did I ever have a doozie of a dream that night. Man. Everyone was moving … Continue reading Yellow Walls
As a kid, I was slapped, shoved, kicked on occasion, and called names like “retard” and “stupid little son of a bitch.” I had fingernails dug into the back of my neck until I bled by an aunt. I had a “good” friend of the family who lived with us for a time hold a knife to my throat and threaten to kill me. I … Continue reading My disease
I’ve recently been made aware that Disney is not paying Alan Dean Foster royalties for the still-in-print Star Wars novels he wrote prior to said company’s purchase of said franchise. You can read all about it right here. If you purport to be a “big fan” of Star Wars and don’t know who ADF is, stop embarrassing yourself and go familiarize yourself with his work. … Continue reading Pay up, Disney !
