After correctly predicting the last four SFWA Grand Masters (here and here), I missed badly in 2017. No, it wasn’t Dan Simmons. Instead, Jane Yolen won this year’s honor. My overall response is meh. Nothing against Ms. Yolen, but I think she’s the first Grand Master whose books I’ve never read. Wait, check that, we […]
There Goes My Streak Read More »
Congratulations to C.J. Cherryh, multiple award-winning author of Downbelow Station, Cyteen, the Faded Sun series, and a bunch of other sf and fantasy works. Here’s a link to the official announcement I’ve now predicted the last four SFWA Grand Masters. Click on last year’s prediction post and follow the links back from there.
Congrats to C.J. Cherryh, 2016 SFWA Grand Master! Read More »
This post builds on my previous series about the Fermi Paradox. Quoting Nick Land, expat Brit philosopher in Shanghai, “The cosmic reality visible to us is characterized by an intense, efficient aversion to the existence of advanced civilizations.” He calls whatever it is that prevents the existence of advanced civilizations “The Great Filter.” Longtime science fiction
An Exterminator-Free Galaxy Read More »
While researching a story I’m currently writing about terraforming, I found The Paul Birch Web Archive. If you’re looking for big, hard science fiction ideas, follow the link now and get your mind expanded. Want to speed up Venus’ rotation to give it a day 24 hours long, at the low low price of $20
A treasure trove of hard science fiction ideas Read More »
Pen names are one of the many aspects of the publishing industry in flux these days. Formerly, traditional publishers would typically demand writers change pen names when switching genres. Marketplace confusion was the stated rationale: if “Max Steele” mostly wrote hard-boiled detective stories, then switched to a cozy mystery, where Grandma sets down her knitting
“New” Fantasy Novel Read More »
Here’s the official announcement. Nothing more needs to be said. One of the writers who led me to become a lifelong sf reader is getting a well-deserved accolade. So well-deserved I predicted it three years ago. (I’m also glad to see the recently-erupting political fault lines in the sf community didn’t ding him as I
Larry Niven named SFWA Grand Master Read More »
I decided to start 2015 by rereading the Roger Zelazny books I own. (Here’s why). Wikipedia can tell you about some of Zelazny’s characteristic themes: immortals, riffs on real-world mythologies, and the ‘absent father.’ Thanks to immersing myself in rereading, I noticed a couple of recurring themes I haven’t seen reported anywhere else. (Not even
Transforming landscapes and battling twins in Roger Zelazny Read More »
CARNIVAL IN SORGENBACH, by Raymund Eich Imagine Mardi Gras, a.k.a. Carnival… Imagine Mardi Gras on an empty stomach, under the eye of foreign occupiers, with most of your friends maimed or dead…. Imagine Mardi Gras, haunted not only by the horrors of the war just ended, but premonitions of an even more terrible war to
Mardi Gras dark fantasy Read More »
A Writers of the Future honorable mention A billion Third Worlders wanted to work in the United States. As a lucky holder of a daypass, Chalo had the opportunity to teleport to his job, unless he overstayed his shift. Or lost his daypass. “Pase de un Día” is just US$2.99 at an ebook retailer near
New standalone short story Read More »
My latest short story, an historical dark fantasy entitled “Carnival in Sorgenbach,” is now available in ebook editions from CV-2 Books. Hans returned from the Great War, haunted. Not only by the horrors of the trenches, but haunted by visions of a more terrifying war to come. Will the parties and parades of Carnival 1919
New historical dark fantasy story Read More »
