The Hedge Knight by George R.R. MartinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars A delicious short tale set in a brief hiatus of peace, a time when a knight like Ser Duncan (Dunk) could walk, ride, joust, and sell his sword to a worthy (or not) lord. This tale describes how he and his squire Egg […]
Born in Somers Town, London, United Kingdom, in 1797, her story, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, lives on in a million minds. It is amazing how much it is quoted in film and fiction. It’s a very effective archetype, the artificial/undead monster given life by an egotistical human seizing divine power. I recently saw a
It’s Mary Shelley’s 220th Birthday Read More »
After several years of political influence that resulted in No Award votes for the Hugo Awards, this year’s were largely uncontroversial, but the results were surprising to many who are not paying attention to SFF. A picture is better to convey the information: Also, N.K. Jemisin who just finished The Broken Earth trilogy. Her series
Hugo Awards: Women > Sad Puppies Read More »
Cinder by Marissa MeyerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Marissa Meyer writes fairy tales in a dystopian future of high technology and little hope. Cinder, the protagonist, is a homologue of Cinderella. We have a Prince, an evil stepmother, and other aspects of the famous tale, but the original story is used as a device
Wild Cards by George R.R. MartinMy rating: 3 of 5 stars A mosaic novel where after an alien virus is exploded over New York City (and into the jet stream), society has a parallel force of Aces and Jokers, victims/beneficiaries of the virus. What’s coolest (for me) is the way actual events were woven into
Wild Cards – Edited by George R. R. Martin Read More »
One of the first places Denise and I went together was Vernal Falls in Yosemite. At the end of the trail is a climb to the top of the 318-foot waterfall. It takes almost as long to climb to the top of the fall as it does to reach the start of the switchbacks. I’m
So, with the solar eclipse arriving on 8/21/2017, the first thing you should remember is never to look directly at The Sun, even during the eclipse. There are commercial solar glasses available, but before you buy, make sure the lenses you purchase are really certified. There is an onslaught of counterfeit vendors of solar glasses
Getting Ready for the Solar Eclipse Read More »
Ok, let’s imagine that there are 4 band members in each band. That means about 2500 people per million in Finland. In other words, one in every 400 people of Finland, including babies, is in a metal band. Hey, Sweden is pretty kick ass too. m/
Distribution of Metal Bands in Europe Read More »
The Grind Show by Phil TuckerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars The Grind Show is an early novel by Phil Tucker that explores a world where demons cohabit with humans. Only a few human beings can perceive them, both through sight and esp. For other humans, these demon fighters are insane. Our protagonist is one
The Grind Show by Phil Tucker Read More »
Seminar, a UCF Theater production I enjoyed the performance of Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar, a story about four aspiring novelists who sign up for a weekly writing seminar with a well-known literary figure, Leonard (played by Earl Weaver.) The four authors are Kate, Izzy, Douglas, and Martin. Kate, a feminist who reads Kerouac in the tub,
UCF Production of Seminar Read More »
I don’t usually post anything personal, but Denise’s post to me was so touching that I wanted to share it with you. Charles (center), Kyle (on the right), and I (on the left). I love the picture, but the words she wrote made me cry. What a woman I have. I am so lucky.
Father’s Day Post from Denise. Read More »
From high in the passenger seat of a Peterbilt truck, the featureless expanse of the Great Plains stretched to the horizons. Beside me The Cisco Kid, a Canadian trucker, my ride, a lonely soul who spotted me hitchhiking in Sacramento, thumped the steering wheel, keeping time. It was March, and Cisco — I never learned
The Shiny Side Stayed Up Read More »
The Adventures of Jesus Christ, Boy Detective by J. BradleyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars The Adventures of Jesus Christ, Boy Detective It’s disingenuous to begin a book like J. Bradley’s The Adventures of Jesus Christ, Boy Detective and not expect to wallow in irreverence, so don’t read it if your religious feathers are easily
Supine was I, diagonal, set upon the table, eyes frozen, fixed upon two paper lanterns— suspended like dirigibles: Crest white and cash green. Still, but more in motion than I who lay below, shivering, lying, telling myself two hundred dollars matter. You plucked fish from fans splayed across my refrigerated skin; you prodded sand dollar
Did he reuse the canvas or is he seeping into our consciousness? The artist, Branwell Brontë, elder brother of the sisters, hoped to become a professional artist. The painting was described by author Elizabeth Gaskell in 1853 when it showed just the 3 sisters separated by the column. Now Branwell is emerging from the column. It was
Portrait of the Brontë Sisters (and Branwell fading in) by Branwell Brontë Read More »
Our marriage’s tides rise and ebb. I sense their rhythm, those neap phases and spring highs. Denise, my wife, loves calm water, but I yearn for the surf, so we each steer our craft different ways. Somehow, we avoid floundering. In 2009, I traveled alone to Switzerland on business. It’s my most frequent destination, because I write
Teaching the Insomniac Read More »