A wandering weekend

It might be light on the posts this weekend, as I'm taking a couple of hikes, one with the guys from our church up to Breakneck Ridge over by the Hudson River, and the other on Sunday with my wife, though I don't remember exactly what mountain or trail we're going on. I'll update on that later.

A tiring weekend, perhaps, but hopefully fun and absent of any broken bones or sprained ankles. We already clocked in some miles on our rollerblades yesterday in the park, and with these two hikes, my legs will probably wake up Monday morning wondering if they're still attached. All part of staying in shape and enjoying the outdoors, right?

As per the request of a blog-reading friend (you know who you are) I now end this post with...

Pictures of things that I think look cool!

I see that smile.

Caribbean infused science fiction

I remember a big fuss when Tobias Buckell's Crystal Rain first hit the shelves, but despite the great reviews, I kept passing it up whenever I saw it in the stores. Then I saw his latest, extending the story with a new cast of characters in Ragamuffin. Both novels are noted for Buckell's unique mesh of cultures, showing the human race flung out into space, faring for itself among alien races that are either indifferent to our survival, or outright hostile.

So, with some birthday money firmly in hand, I finally convinced myself to get both titles.

The only consolation I can give myself for waiting so long is that, after I finished Crystal Rain in two days of subway commutes, I didn't have to wait for his next one to come out, and am already leaping into Ragamuffin. Anyone who likes a great adventure should read these. I'm also of the opinion that even if you don't generally read speculative fiction, Crystal Rain might be a story you'd enjoy. A lot of it happens in a low-tech society with more of a science fiction history. But the story revolves around the people (albeit, some genetically altered and/or enhanced), with only parts of it relying on technology to move the plot along. Ragamuffin is very much more space-bound, and I'm just a few chapters into it, but it's still gripping.

I'll give a fuller review of Ragamuffin when it's done, but for now, let me say that Crystal Rain has to be one of my favorite science fiction reads of late (this being from someone who usually prefers fantasy). The setup is this:

Humans came to the planet Nanagada many generations ago, and have long since forgotten or lost most of their technological prowess along with their history. John deBrun (the man with the hook) was fished out of the ocean twenty-seven years ago, and doesn't remember a thing about his life before that time. Now the Azteca, a violent sect of humanity led by fearsome Teotl "gods" are surging over the mountains in a wave of bloodshed, and the world's only hope lies in a mysterious device in the northern ice--one that only John can find and use...if he remembered how.

The environment within the story--the forests, the ocean, the island culture--comes across vividly, and I really enjoyed how the world is slowly expanded so you get a sense of how these people are living in a tenuous peace at first, and then are getting caught up in the generations-old, interstellar chaos.

The dialects in Crystal Rain are noticeable and add a great flavor, but fortunately they don't fall into that overly distracting mode, or become too difficult to read. The steampunk technology of the humans combined with the ancient, mysterious technology of the aliens makes for an intriguing blend, and it is fun to spot the many twists and turns Buckell uses on familiar phrases to show how a culture mixes fragments of truth into its old stories and legends (like how the colony "old-fathers" came to the planet through a "worm's hole" in the sky).

His third novel, Sly Mongoose, looks to be coming out in 2008, and I can't wait. I'm a fan now, Mr. Buckell. Keep it coming.


I see that smile.

Mr. Picassohead

Thanks to Holly Lisle for linking this up, providing hours (okay...for some folks, probably a few minutes) of entertainment.

Mr. Picassohead is an online graphical editor that lets you combine various preset shapes and abstract designs in order to make a face, or some other shape-a-zoid composition, unique to your imagination. You can even sign it with a text editor that makes your name properly sloppy on the digital canvas and post it for others to see. There's already a gallery up, and there are plenty of...er...interesting designs that people have come up with.

What's it good for? Oh, I could see myself playing with this for an hour while I let my subconscious ruminate on a plot point, or just something fun to fiddle with and relax when I get home from work. Anyone want to come up with a design and show it around?

Here's one I did on the fly.


I see that smile.

Stolen Jewels

Stolen and digitized jewelry.

While you are perusing the pictures from the above link, consider their statement of being an exploration of tangible vs. intangible in relation to real vs. perceived value. Now, maybe that's just a phrase they came up with to justify a fun little fashion experiment, but it does raise an interesting question if you take it seriously. What does our perception of value rest on? An item's beauty? The chemicals and carbons that compose it? Perhaps its history? A family heirloom, even if it turns out to be nothing but costume jewelry, still might be precious because of the many hands it has passed down through.

And speaking of jewelry, I've never understood the need some people seem to have in doubling their body weight with metal and stones. For myself, the only jewelry I wear is a white gold wedding ring (and that's only for just under three months now). Not that I begrudge anyone who chooses that way to express themselves, but...I dunno. Never had the urge. Want to have a contest to see who out there, reading this blog, wears the most metal and gems on a daily basis?

I also think its fun how much enchanted jewelry (rings, necklaces, broaches, and any other variant) and gems play a huge part in many fantasy stories. Even science fiction uses them as sources of alien energy, or crystal facets that store massive amounts of information or serve as communication devices. What is it with our focus on gems, crystals, and other shiny stuffs? Is it the ooh-pretty complex? The mythos of bling? Or, again, is it that perceived value and show of wealth (and thus power) that we associate with these things?


I see that smile.

Poetry of another bend

With all of my web browsing, I don't know how I miss some of these gems that people post. Like this little poem by Abi Sutherland, on Catz:

I in ur sonnet, doin ur ritin.
How do this hapn? I just a kitty.
Main job of catz are just 2B pritty!
(‘Cept with the doggies, then us be fitin.)
Course back in da old days catz was workin
Eatin ur mouses an axin fr milk…
Now giv me treatz or me clawin ur silk!
An bring em here fast, none of ur shirkin.
U humanz r comin under r powr
Uzin ur money to pamper n feed us,
Learnin from websitez how much u need us.
R clvr planz is comin to flower!
Now mousie are safe in his tiny holz
Nless u go catch him. I da boss. LOLz

This comes from Making Light, and that first poem started a whole run of ridiculous, geeky humor, such as a l33T version of Shelley's Tyger. I wonder if that is going to ever become a recognized dialect, or just a badge of geekhood for those who can actually speak and/or interpret it. It'd kill me to read a book written entirely that way. Hmm. A challenge, perhaps?

I see that smile.

Know your market

For anyone out there who may also be in the process of looking for an agent to represent your novel, here is a cool search function that lists "the largest and most current database of literary agents."

Agent Query

You can search for an agent according to specific genres, nonfiction and fiction, or you can look up an author, or even a specific book and see if it lists what agent represented them. It's a handy way to narrow down the agents who might want to look at, say, your paranormal romance with alien vampires, rather than those agents who prefer cozy mysteries that where the murder was committed by a darning needle.

So long as the information is available, an agent's profile includes their agency, contact information, website, email, and whether or not they are accepting queries at this time. It also goes so far as to list their special interests, what they absolutely will not represent, and often enough, submission guidelines (1 page and query? sample chapters and a synopsis?). There might also be a rundown of their latest deals, though don't think one is less professional than another if this info is missing. It just means it isn't available for some reason or another. Hey, some agents might like their privacy.

Another option I use to cross-check agents is Preditors and Editors. As listed on my site, this is another database of agencies, but with a focus on rating their professionalism, quality of work, and to alert writers to potential scammers.

I'm keeping an eye on the mailbox, seeing if any responses to queries arrive this week. I'll let y'all know.


I see that smile.

A trifecta

I bring to you another episode of:

Why?

Why?

and Why?!

Answer these riddles three, and you get to make a wish (note--no promises that it will come true, but if it does, I take full credit).


I see that smile.

Toys on feet

This last week, the wife and I managed to procure a set of rollerblades for the both of us--mine through birthday money, and hers through craigslist.


Mine:


Hers:

I know. Aren't I just a natural at photography? Anyways, I have always loved rollerblading much more than running or biking. I don't know exactly why. All those activities use wheels and/or legs. But for some reason, rollerblading has always been my preference. Granted, I haven't done it since my family lived in Florida, over ten years ago (though I have done ice skating every once in a while, which I claim to be similar). Those were also the times I used to get my dog on the leash and have him drag me around the neighborhood, holding on for dear life as he spotted a squirrel and shot off after it. But it's always been in the back of my mind to pick up a set and try out the wheels again. After a few hours in the park, it's great to discover that rollerblading holds to the principle of "You never forget the basics." And in Brooklyn, not only is it a fun way to get out and enjoy a sunny day like this one was, but they also double as an alternative to the subway or walking to the coffee shop.

Aside from kung fu, I think this could become one of my more regular physical activities. Does anyone out there have something you do to get out of the house, or to help the blood flow away from the butt in between writing sessions? Hiking? Swimming? Hitting the gym?

I see that smile.

Don't take it personally

Slushkiller and the Rejection Collection

(sounds like the name of a band, doesn't it?)

Since I've had to handle a few rejections slipped into my mailbox and inbox lately, I did what any other writer would do--I sought proof that these rejections did not mean my proposal/query/manuscript was only useful for picking dog droppings off the sidewalk. Cause no matter how thick a skin we build, that initial tear open of the envelope and the words "Thanks, but no thanks" still prick a teensy bit. Don't they?

I think I've said before that part of me is, in a way, glad to get any response at all—positive or negative. It's validation that says I'm at least trying. Anyways, the point of this was to highlight the link at the top of this post. It's an older article by an editor who tries to remind writers not to take rejection personally. There is no secret code of form letters or hidden cabal trying to wreck your career. Most times, a rejection is just a flat No. Nothing more or less. You may never know the reasons behind it, but it's silly to conjure up all sorts of psychotherapy issues to afflict the rejector with.

It just didn't work for them at the time. Maybe they filled their literary quota for the season. Maybe they don't handle that specific genre you sent them. Or maybe your story was a tie with another just-as-good manuscript and the coin flip came down in their favor. These things happen. The important thing is that we don't bemoan this and belittle the people behind the rejection. And it surprises me how many people are willing to blame rejections on conspiracy or personal vendetta or bad breath. It's funny to read through some of those responses. For instance, there's a series of four rejections from different publishers on the same book, and each publisher gives almost identical reasons for why they didn't buy the book. Does the author consider the feedback and rework his proposal? Nope. They just keep getting angrier at the editors for not accepting their wonderful idea. (There are nicer responses, of course, but it's the angry ones that make me chuckle)

All this to get a few rejections out of my system. It's really not so bad. Without those rejections, there never would be a chance for acceptance. And of all the dozens or hundreds of submissions one makes as a writer for a single manuscript, it only takes one Yes to open the door.


I see that smile.

Whence comes the end?

Okay. You're working on a project. It could be a short story. It could be a novel. It could be a haiku. Now, for a haiku, it's easier to answer this question. Three lines. You're done. But how do you, personally, decide how to end a story? I've heard of (and used) a number of techniques so far. Shooting for that final dramatic line or quip of dialogue that sews everything together and trying to know by that "gut feeling" when you've found it. Or starting out a story by already knowing what your last line is going to be, and so the story vaguely steers itself in that direction, using those final words as a guiding star for the last few scenes. Maybe that last sentence is what gave you the idea for the whole story in the first place. At other times, I had a certain word count that I aimed for, and so when I neared it, I tried to place the action in a way that it would naturally end near where I wanted it to. Oddly enough, I seem to have a decent inner word-count-track, kinda like some people have that inner clock so they always know what time of day it is without needing to look. With the flexible structure I use to plan out a novel before actually writing it, I generally know the swells and dips of the plot and can divide it up into portions of particular lengths, with a feel for what and how many scenes should be a part of each.

Too mechanical an approach for some? Is it more touch and go for you? Oh, and have you ever finished a story that ended on a really bad note for you, or one that gives you no sense of fulfillment or completion? Tell me about that time.


I see that smile.

Where would you go?

Unusual hotels of the world

Peek through this website and tell me, if you could pick (sans budget issues) any one destination that they offer, where would you stay?

A cathedral?

Caves?

Maybe underwater?

I'm still waiting for real estate to start opening up property for lunar resorts, but until then, I think I'm tempted by this isolated aquarium (though it looks suspiciously like an outhouse) and this lodge in the Australian rainforest. Oh, and did you see the other underwater one that requires you to be a licensed scuba diver just to get to the entrace? Wicked!

On a writing note, I did a lil' word count of my scenes so far and I'm about 80k into my current story. Coming up to a pivotal scene, where things take a big shift and the action ramps up until the end comes a'crashin'. Or so I hope. Never quite know how it will actually turn out, but onward!

For fun, here is a random quote taken from the current (very roughly drafted) scene:

My whoop of freedom elongated into a yell as I plummeted towards the earth.


I see that smile.

Viva la Steampunk!

I showed glasses and a keyboard a while back. They've got a retro-funk appeal to them that I dare you to refute. Now gaze in the glory of

Steam-Driven Dreams: The Wondrously Whimsical World of Steampunk

I haven't read much in the way of steampunk genre novels. In fact, I can't name one off the top of my head. But seeing these creations makes me want to go out there and discover what kind of stories I've been missing. Any suggestions to get me started? Any steampunk classics that you all have gone through?

I'm digging the clockwork minotaur.

And call me crazy (I know...that's kind of a given at this point, isn't it?) but I want one of these for my desk.

It's like the classic melting candle on a skull motif...except Cthulhu style! Too bad my birthday has already passed by, but there's always Christmas.

While you're gazing at all this metallic chaos, peek over here for the works of a self-acclaimed Eccentric Genius. Do the contraptions he builds work? I think it might be best if some of them don't. For the safety of humanity and all that.

I see that smile.

Wooden Robots

Verdict? Cute? Cool? I just wonder what they run on. Coal? Gas? Wooden wiring?

Here are the links that show a few more versions of these

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/06/wooden_robots_f.html

http://take-g.com/crafts/big.html

I claim this one as a personal favorite. They probably arrive with some assembly required.

That's all for Monday. Oh, and I did get my issue of the Dragons, Knights, & Angels. Don't forget that you can see some of the stories, along with my flash fiction, Manikin, on their website.


I see that smile.

Spray on

Not that I ever plan to use something like this myself, but I can see it having its advantages. Those morning faces would be easier and quicker to apply on the subway commute, and it might lessen the number of car accidents due to women adding eye shadow and lipstick while driving in rush hour traffic.

Make-up printer

Course...if the alignment gets off or the cartridges go dry in the middle of an application session, that could cause all sorts of havoc. Kinda funny to imagine people walking by with only half their faces done up.

And for some reason, that suggestion at the end of the article really caught my imagination. What if a device like this could print-paste a whole new face onto yours, or mini-images (like temporary tattoos) onto selected patches of skin? There's a new twist on the Mission Impossible full-head masks. Mary Kay goes cloak and dagger.


I see that smile.

Part 2 of Publishing Industry 101

My post for yesterday didn't go up for some reason (it's there now), but for those tuning back in, it involved Diana Peterson who has posted a primer on publishing industry terms and concepts to help people who might not be as in-the-know on the business side of writing. I'll admit, sometimes I wish I could skip all the queries and mailings and proposals and just focus on the writing 24/7 (aside from my job of course) but I suppose being educated when approaching agents and editors with my work at least helps present a professional image that they might want to work with.

Here is Diana's Part 2 to the primer, where she covers manuscript format, electronic submissions and word count.

More to come.

I'm actually involved with a lot of this right now, because I'm processing all my submissions to various agencies for one of my novels in the hope of getting represented again. So I'm dealing with proposals and synopses and making sure I've got Courier or Times New Roman, font size 12 with 1 inch margins all around the page. Thank God for industry standards, otherwise it'd be a crazy mess having to reformat the first sample chapters and pages for every agent I sent to. Still, it is fun printing stuff up and getting it nice and packed up to mail out. I will, of course, let you all know should anything come of these submissions.


I see that smile.

Publishing Primer

(Edit: Srangely enough, this post was set for yesterday, but it apparently never got set online. Not sure how that happened. Sorry for anyone who wandered by for the daily update and found it lacking.)

For those of you who might be interested in how the publishing industry works, there are a lot of terms that it might behoove you to be familiar with. Do you know what a partial is? Pitch sheet? Query?

Do you know the secret handshake to get yourself out of the slushpile? (or...do you know what the slushpile is? No...it doesn't involve cherry snowcones.)

As many come to see, getting published involves a two-part effort. The first, writing itself, seems like a large enough energy dump. But the second part, understanding and working through the business, can be just as important.

Diana Peterson has posted the first part of a series that is intended to teach a lot of the basic terms and truths about publishing. She starts off by letting everyone know that:

• There is no secret handshake.
• There is no magic ticket.
• You don't need to know anyone.
• Every author was once a debut author. New authors sell books all the time.

Then it goes into a glossary, covering everything from what agents, synopses, and queries are. Very helpful, especially if you've got some lingering confusion.

Check it out. You might learn something.


I see that smile.

A warning at their expense

I've always had a schadenfreude reaction to agent and editor stories about the worst clients or wanna-be-authors they've had to interact with. From people shoving manuscripts under a bathroom stall door, to trying to get them drunk, to showing up at their homes to pitch to them (can you say, stalker?)...there are stories galore about rude, inconsiderate, and downright creepy ways people have approached the gatekeepers of the publishing industry.

Note. These stories are not attempts for you to emulate. They are warnings that you must heed very carefully and make sure you never come close to copying should you wish to remain off publishing blacklists.

However, I do believe that this recent story, as related by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency takes the prize for the ultimate act of clueless idiocy.

Read about it on her blog: The Best “What Not To Do At A Conference” Story Ever

I haven't personally seen anyone make a fool of themselves at a writing conference, or anywhere else during my time in the industry. Disappointing. Have you all had an experience worth remembering--though not in a good way?


I see that smile.

Jim Baen's Universe, Vol. 1, Issue 3, Review 3

We've come to the end of the review, folks. Thanks for sticking through it. I hope it has piqued your interest in this magazine. Maybe a few of you have actually bought an issue or subscription. I'd highly recommend it. And I wanted to thank the staff at Jim Baen's Universe for letting me read through this issue.

Onto the last review. We've got several stories by new authors.

The Men in the Mirror, by Steven Ray:
Synopsis: Another time-travel story. This one more convoluted and crowded than most, and it relies on the often unexplained "machine" to do most of the space-time continuum gobbledygook. A man's efforts to further himself by manipulating his past have far-reaching consequences concerning who he becomes and what kind of man he will allow himself to be.
My take: I was concerned this was going to fall prey to a lot of the time-travel cliches that inundate science fiction these days. Fortunately, the ending actually surprised me, and the author was meticulous in handling the minor details, so there was never a loose thread to ruin the experience. It almost seems plausible, if complicated. A cool twist on a classic theme.

Songbird, by Jeremiah Sturgill:
Synopsis: Do we ever stop and listen to the world? Music is sound, and all of life makes sounds, so life can be sung. A master singer takes on a lifelong servant who turns out to be more of a friend and companion than either of them would have guessed.
My take: This is one of the most beautiful and poetic pieces in the issue. Even though the story is told from a more bitter and cynical perspective, at the end, one's love for life and the heralding of music and sound in everything we do. A gorgeous work.

Devil May Care, by Jason Kahn:
Synopsis: A mid-level demon uncovers a conspiracy brewing in the office ranks of Hell when he is sent to reap a soul from among the earthly mortals.
My take: Another supernatural office environment. Another one with demons. Amusing, but I didn’t ever feel much for it. It came across little tired and jaded, much like its main character, and there weren’t many elements to it that I haven’t seen in other “Hell” stories.

Then there's a classic story, by Rudyard Kipling- A Matter of Fact:
Synopsis: A trio of journalists must decide how to relate their stories to the world when they spot a mythical beast during an ocean journey.
My take: A bit dry, though with that dramatic, almost pulp-fiction style during the exciting parts. The action occurs within a very short, gory scene, and then the rest of the time revolves around the journalist's decision to either hide or expose the truth of what went on. The moral of the story ended up coming across in a final, evocative image, and I almost wonder if the tale was inspired by and written entirely for the last line.

Lastly, there were some nonfiction articles and columns. I found Terraforming, by B.B. Kristopher to be among the most interesting of these, as it relates the many methods and possibilities of terraforming a planet, and tells why Mars really isn't a viable candidate for this process. The article also talks about what planets and moons within our solar system might prove to be the most probable for colonization. Methods ranged from seeding the planet crust with water-bearing asteroids to building habitable domes on the surface to even moving a few heavenly bodies around in space until they the right distance from the sun to develop earth-like conditions. A fascinating read, if a bit technical.

And that's it! We're done! It was great to read through all of this. Seeing so many styles of writing and all these awesome ideas was a great way to find inspiration for my own writing. Seeing how others work their imagination and draw me in...it's quite an experience. I hope you all are able to enjoy some of these stories as well. I'd say my top three favorites were:

Femme Fatale, by Jason Whitman
Baby Girl, by Jon Skovron
Protection Money, by Wen Spencer

Any questions? Arguments? Loudly voiced differences of opinions by others who might have read this issue?

I see that smile.

Jim Baen's Universe, Vol. 1, Issue 3, Review 2

And we're back with more stories! I know you're all so excited. Check yesterday's post if you don't know what I'm talking about. Otherwise, I'm plunging straight into the reviews. Today I am going over the fantasy stories within the issue.

Let's begin.

Protection Money, by Wen Spencer:
Synopsis: An urban mix of mythology and fantasy set in Pittsburgh, where the world of elves and Oni (humans bred with animal spirits) clash over civil rights and territory. Tommy, a half-Oni, is trying to create a life for himself and his family, but there are plenty who hate his kind and will do all they can to take him down.
My take: One of my favorites in the issue. Some crude language, but don't let that slip you up. The writing is smooth, and I love the mythology worked throughout the story. Tommy's hunger for freedom and independence is keenly felt, and the energy never stops once it gets going.

Baby Girl, by Jon Skovron:
Synopsis: Hey, two favorites right in a row. What're the odds? Cobalt Jackson, a voodoo doctor, is hired to rescue a woman from Hell...but the person who hired him (aside from being dead) isn't telling Cobalt everything he needs to know. And he's going to have to face down the Devil by the end.
My take: Fun Cajun-style voodoo going on in here, and the illustrations add great splashes of color to the tale. Great humor mixed in with the macabre visions of Hell, and the ending is hilarious.

Femme Fatale, by Jason D. Wittman:
Synopsis: The story’s focus (though not the protagonist) is Molly Flammare, a mysterious vigilante women with strange powers at her call. When a young boy and a homeless veteran come under her wing and start to work at her dinner club, they begin to learn who this powerful woman really is, and the price she pays for keeping people safe. And then trouble comes...
My take: Three? Three that I have enjoyed immensely, without fail? Awesome. However, this one isn't to enjoy for the humor or laughs, but for the strong noire feel it evokes, a bittersweet ending and the knowledge that even those who give their lives to protect us need to be looked after and loved as well. It hits hard.

Gnome Improvement, by Rebecca Lickiss:
Synopsis: A married couple start to learn what really goes on in their front lawn when they start paying attention to their garden gnomes.
My take: A witty little piece, where the humor isn’t in any kind of surprise or plot twist, but in the quaint style and a feel-good ending.

A Hire Power, by J. Simon:
Synopsis: A morning at an office that deals with supernatural events and creatures. The manager is trying to sort through applicant resumes. You'd think it would be an easy job. Wham-blam crazy and another really short piece that you can breeze through in a few minutes.
My take: Funny. Clever. Nothing hugely original, but still amusing. Does a good job of parodying an office job by taking everything to a magical extreme.

There were two serials included in this issue, Travails with Momma, Episode 3, by John Ringo, and Fish Story, Episode 3, by Dave Freer, Eric Flint, and Andrew Dennis. Serials are a little harder to review, since I've no idea what came before this issue.

For Travails with Momma, I found myself drawn into the story and its coming-of-age romance, along with the strange creatures that made themselves at home in a young boy's home. Of course, this also meant that the ending didn’t have much closure for me, but I think it might be worth tracking down the other episodes.

I found Fish Story absolutely hysterical. It was another favorite, and while it links up to other episodes, I didn't feel like I was missing too much by coming in on it late. You've got some late-night drinkers at a bar who begin to debate over the existence of the Loch Ness monster, and their following escapade to discover if the beast exists after all. The characters are all unique, hilarious, and even somewhat endearing. The dialogue and witty comebacks made me chuckle the whole way through.

Tomorrow is the last portion of this review, where I'll go over the stories by new authors, as well as the nonfiction articles and columns. Join me then to wrap this all up.


I see that smile.

Jim Baen's Universe, Vol. 1, Issue 3, Review Part 1

Remember a bit ago where I mentioned I was going to get to review an issue of Jim Baen's Universe? Well, I finished it, and it's time to let you know what I thought of it. I say "start" letting you know because this was a hefty piece of reading, in all the best ways possible. A little bit of everything for everyone who enjoys good storytelling, both in science fiction and fantasy genres. This whole gamut of blog reviews they're running is to help spread awareness of this publication and hopefully keep it going with subscriptions. So, if you like what I have to say in these posts, maybe check out an issue or two for yourself, or even sign up for a year.

Now, I could just slap a review up saying, "It wuz gud." But since there were so many stories and articles, I thought I'd break this up into a two or even three day review, so I can talk about each of the stories more in-depth. Don't worry. I won't spoil any of them for you (or, I'll try not to) but there are some real gems in this issue, as well as ones that didn't quite catch me.

Let's dig in.

This issue is available from Jim Baen's Universe. A few of the stories (or at least half-content previews) are available to read online here: Volume 1, Issue 3

It has several sections, one being for science fiction, another for fantasy, some serials (ongoing stories from issue to issue) and also a spot to introduce stories by new writers. Lastly were columns and nonfiction articles. I'll do the science fiction stories today and give my opinion of them. And just to mention, all the illustrations throughout the issue were stellar, except for one story where an image entirely ruined the surprise. Anyways, let's begin.

All the Things You Are, by Mike Resnick:
Synopsis: A space-military man sees some ordinary bloke die from a foolhardy, but courageous act. His brief interaction with him reveals the would-be-hero has tried to get himself killed numerous times, and links start to surface that connect the dead man to several other people who have gotten themselves killed in similar fashions. The main character begins to research why all these men are throwing their lives away, and his sleuthing leads him to a mysterious planet where he'll get answers, whether he wants to or not.
My take: This is a bittersweet story that comes full circle. It takes a little while to build into the more interesting parts of the story, but this slower pace does have a more natural charm to it. I was, however, disappointed by the character's choice at the end, in light of all that he experienced and knew.

(I know some of this will sound vague, but I'm really trying to not give anything away that would lessen your own reading of the issue.)

The Old Woman in the Young Woman, by Gene Wolfe:
Synopsis: A wandering man comes across a home where a young girl attends an ailing woman, where he learns some disturbing secrets about their arrangement. Not much more to say without giving the story away.
My take: This started out with a creepy vibe for me. It's full of strong dialect, which the author pulls off well, except it started getting distracting for me by the end. It's a story of sacrifice and moving on in life. It also had an odd feel to me...like I had picked up a book and started reading one of the middle chapters, disconnected from any other part of the plot. I expected more to happen, but most of the action is subtle here.

Every Hole is Outlined, by John Barnes:
Synopsis: This story begins with a load of backstory and setup, beginning with a spaceship crew determining to buy a slave on to train as a crewmember and how their lives play out through the generations of space travel.
My take: I thought it could've gotten off to a snappier start, but that's just my opinion. I felt this was one of the "hard sci-fi" stories of the issue, which aren't my favorite to read, but it does a good job of bringing a human element into the end. The conversation between one of the crew members and their to-be-acquired slave is humorously convoluted, showing very well how legal matters can garble the most straightforward discussions. Other than that, there were a few spots that I snagged on, such as “She trilled a soft trickle of sweet soprano sibilance.” I realize the effect the author was going for, but it’s a bit overkill.

A Time to Kill, by S. Andrew Swann:
Synopsis: A time-travel story stretched to the ultimate conclusion. If you could change history, how might the future be affected in ways you can't imagine? Can history ever be remade once it is unmade?
My take: Nothing hugely surprising or plot twisting, but fun to read. It takes the time-travel premise further than most stories of this type I have read, showing how confusing events and consequences really can be. The story starts with the focus on Islamic terrorists and takes the reader on a journey through the world's violent history.

The Man Who Wasn't There, by Gregory Benford:
Synopsis: Oddly, another story dealing with the Middle East and terrorists. Kicks off with a good blast of super-secret infiltration using some clever technology (including some not-yet developed items that we’ve seen in the news lately). That's pretty much all that happens...explosions, action scenes, conclusion.
My take: An intriguing forecast of how the war on terror might evolve, and what advances might be made in dealing with terrorist groups. There is some sympathy here for the main character, though most of the story doesn’t focus on any human element, but more the blow-em-up sequences showcased with advanced tech.

Little Sips, by Barbara J. Ferrenz:
Synopsis: People are dying from a condition called "dry brain" where the fluids in their skulls are vanishing. A detective and a doctor must discover what is causing this before more people are killed.
My take: Two problems with this story, as inventive as it was-- 1. The characters felt rushed for sake of the story (such as a rather forced romance), and 2. There was an illustration early on in the pages that totally gave away any surprise the story might have had. So when the curtains were pulled back (figuratively) to reveal the big threat, I already knew exactly what it was. Still, a clever and fun read with a humorous twist at the end.

Great Minds, by Edward M. Lerner:
Synopsis: A man greets an unexpected, yet familiar guest in his den.
My take: This one made me laugh, if for the ironic humor of it. Based on the idea of multiple universes, this story starts out somewhat confusing (but rightfully so) and makes you keep reading with a dawning comprehension of what is going on. Just the right balance and length.

The Power of Illusion, by Christopher Anvil:
Synopsis: One of the longer reads. A story of a planet where the civilizations are still in a medieval state of technology, while being watched over by space-faring cultures. The conflict between two warring kingdoms escalates when one side is given advanced technology in order to wipe the others out. A space-military officer with secret ties to the planet must figure out how to save the outmatched kingdom without breaking rules of non-interference.
My take: Some people will like this. Others will not. It didn't quite grab me, even though I know the author put a lot of effort into this story. The lessons learned here are good ones: Beware of free gifts. Beware of how lies and deception can have unintended consequences. Follow your nobler instincts and never give up hope. At the same time, the beginning conversation, I thought, took way too long, and it's only purpose was to set the rest of the story up. This could've been expanded into a full novel, methinks.

And that's it for today! Whew. Check back tomorrow for when I go over the fantasy stories in the issue.


I see that smile.

Manikin available online

This popped up faster than I expected. I got an email from the editors of Dragons, Knights, & Angels magazine to let me know that...

Manikin is now available to read online.

So, hop on over to DKA and take a peek. This is the ittiest-bittiest story I've written so far, but I had fun fiddling with it. Also, keep checking back at their website to spot other stories as they are put up. And you can look at previous issues and browse their forums.

Oh, and eventually DKA will be publishing another one of my stories (significantly longer) titled "The Ways of Monsters and Men." I'll be sure to let you know when that is making the rounds.


I see that smile.

Post-birthday post

A great half-day of work, followed by spending time with my lovely wife, and then an evening of games and fondue with friends. Awesome way to spend a b-day.

Light post for Saturday, as I am off to play with spears and then will try to escape the muggy day by camping out with fans and an AC unit. Some writing might be done, should sweat not obscure my vision of the keyboard.

I will leave you with these questions. Ponder them carefully.

Why?

Why?

and...Why?!


I see that smile.

A year in NYC

I just realized. This week marks one year since I literally first stepped foot in NYC.

A lot has happened in this last year. In fact, I'd wager that it has held the most changes and transitions in my life than any other year before it, including entering and leaving college.

Things that have happened in the past year:
I moved away from Colorado
I went through a summer intensive graduate program at NYU
I sold my first short story, and several more following that one
I got a job at a publishing house
I got an agent for one of my novels
I got engaged
I got married
The wife and I moved into our new apartment
My agent left her agency, and so I am looking again
And today, I am celebrating a second birthday in NYC on this Friday. 24 years old. Yeesh.

Overall, it has been a wonderful year. There were certainly some struggle times, but for the most part, the memories made in this past year are ones that make me smile.

Other things have happened. My mother got rather ill. The oldest of my sisters had surgery after doing ministry in New Orleans along with our middle sister. My littlest sister graduated kindergarten. My dad's family practice has been building up. There have been bumps along the way, but I thank God every day for all the love and opportunity and growth that has come into my life. I know growth can come through painful and darker times as well, and while that may yet come, I will savor this past year and look forward to the next one, wherever it may land me.


I see that smile.

Flash fiction, now in print

You think I would notice these things, considering they involve some writing of mine actually getting put to paper. But this magazine issue has been available for a week now, and I just now realized it.

Dragons, Knights, & Angels Issue 45, June 2007 is now on sale through Lulu.com, and it features my flash fiction piece, "Manikin." Albeit, this is a tiny little story that runs less than 150 words, but hey...you can't complain about not having the time to read it.

Other stories include "Soul's Sphere" by Lindsay Lair, "Even Dragons Dance" by Christopher Kastensmidt, "Imported Goods" by Megan Elaine Davis, "Treatment Protocol" by Michael Heald, and "Stihdjia" by Nick Ozment.

The DKA forum announcement of this issue is here

If you can't drop a few dollars for the magazine, at least keep an eye on the website-- Dragons, Knights, and Angels magazine --for they tend to post pieces online after the print version has been available for a long enough time. I'll let you know once I see it. Those other stories should also show up one by one.



I see that smile.

Something my wife showed me

I thought this was pretty cool.

Imagini

It's a new site that shows your your "visual DNA." It's basically a personality test that analyzes the images you select according to topic, rather than having you answer questions like "Do you enjoy dumping scalding water on yourself, yes or no?" Even though I've never been hugely enthralled with personality tests, especially all the cheapo types found on the internet, this one was kinda fun and surprisingly accurate. I know. There's a certain line of logic and generalized statements that can be cobbled together so people will read themselves into a description, like in fortune cookies or horoscopes. But give Imagini a try and see what it tells you about yourself. The wife and I agreed it was pretty spot on for me.

Here's my results:

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

If anything, it has a unique approach, and I found some of the selections available rather humorous, such as one guy's really hairy back under the topic "That's Gross."

Of course, you can also sign up and connect with other similarly disposed people for chat and whatnot. Seems like every other website is someone kind of hookup program in disguise. What's with that?

I see that smile.

Audio books

Piggy-backing off of yesterday's topic...where I talked about writers who had transitioned some of their material to more spur-of-the-moment stage storytelling...

How many of you listen to audiobooks?

I see a lot of audiobooks, working at the publishing house. It's one of the big imprints that we do catalogs for, and audiobooks seem to reach a lot of people. (Though I have yet to understand the logic behind Abridged versions of a book. Sure, it's less CDs, but it's also not the full story.)

I've never had too much experience with them. Maybe it's because of my television complex. If I come into a room with a t.v. on in the background, and someone tries to talk to me, I really have to focus hard on listening to them rather than being drawn into whatever show is playing. Same with an audio program, or even the radio. If I have to divide my attention between two things, it makes both things less enjoyable or efficient. When I read a book, I like being able to lose myself solely in the story, not having to worry about what's going on around me, or perhaps driving a car. I know that if I had an audiobook playing, and if the story was good enough, I'd eventually want to stop and just listen to it, which seems to negate a lot of the reasons people listen to audiobooks. It's so they don't have to sit and read...they can cook, or drive, or workout while listening to the story. I guess my mind doesn't work that way.

Not to say that audiobooks are bad in any sense. I have listened to a few, but I still prefer picking up the pages and flipping through, rather than having someone talk in my ear. Besides, when I read a story through my eyes, I can create whatever voices and emotional pauses or tones to the words that I want. In an audiobook, that's all done for me, and the result is not what my reading would have produced, but what the hired and paid professional got out of it.

I dunno. Anyone out there a big fan of audiobooks? Am I totally off track in avoiding them?


I see that smile.

Words on the page and from the mouth

Storytelling is what we do. I love writing and reaching the end and realizing that I've written something others might enjoy reading. At the same time, I'm not a shabby public speaker. It was something I studied pretty often during college. Aside from the required classroom speeches, there were several times I gave presentations for anything from conferences to a magic show for the college's Halloween festival. Once I get talking in front of folks, I really don't suffer from those stage jitters (though they can hit beforehand, I'll admit).

But, if you stuck me in front of an audience and tell me to spout off a story...I think I might have some trouble making it up as I go along.

Now, you say, Josh, that's what you're doing anyways. All that you've written so far has almost nothing to do with reality as it is. Why would you have such a hard time making things up?

Mainly because I need time to mull things over. To make mental connections for plots and characters. These come to me, but often not right when I demand them. So if I were making it up on the spot, there'd be a lot of hemming and hawing and back-tracking from me, and I think the audience might get a little frustrated with my constant revisions. Either that, or I'd talk myself into a corner and need a couple days to figure out how to get out of it. Every writer seems to hit these situations...though I'm sure there are exceptions.

All this to point out why I am impressed with reports of this storytelling collective, known as The Moth.

Yarn spinning, in real time

There's the link for the story itself. It asks the question whether being a good writer makes one a good (auditory) storyteller by relation. Or are they two skills that must be fashioned in their own way?

"It is a different medium," says Lea Thau, Moth executive director. Indeed. Just a few days before he was scheduled to perform before 300 people at the Calderwood, Steve Almond, author of the memoir "Candyfreak," noted, "There are people who are born good storytellers. Then there are people like me, who know how to tell a story if we can work on it or edit it. But we're not natural storytellers – which is why we write."

If I could memorize and relate one of my short stories on stage, I think that'd be a lot of fun. Certainly I think I could put across a lot of emotion and my original intent, kind of the same way authors do readings at bookstores and all that, but perhaps with a bit more theatrics to it. It'd be a great exercise, I think. In fact, one of the ways I review and revise my writing is to read it out loud to myself to see if it has a natural flow. Still, I'd at least to have the stuff memorized, or have notes in my hand. I'm impressed by what the Moth and similar organizations are bringing to audiences...maybe I'll be able to do something like that someday.

I hear some writers say that they like the fact that writing is a solitary profession...that we aren't being watched constantly, and the only editor is the one with horns and a pitchfork, sitting on our shoulder and laughing at the cliches we let slip into the draft.

A quote from the article struck me on this:

"I've been writing for years....Sometimes I don't even remember how alone I am. Having an audience right in front of you is startling – and invigorating, hugely invigorating. I remembered that we tell stories to connect with other people. And in this instance, the connection was simultaneous."

I see that smile.

Cool Legos

A short post for today, since I am rather wiped. Went on an 8-mile hike yesterday, mixed in with a little rope-swinging over a lake, and swimming. You'd think physical activity makes people tired or something.

Since my brain enjoys premium contact with a pillow, I'm going to show you this mildly entertaining link, and leave you to your devices today.

http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2007/05/lego_ice_cube_t.html

I see that smile.

The future is touchie-feelie

In the next installment of "Josh's random links of the Future!" we are given a glimpse of the future of computer interface:

Tabletop Touching.

I'm already budgeting to buy the first prototype, which will probably pop up error messages such as:

Error: Function could not find your finger.
Warning: Do you wish to erase your fingerprints?

Plus these systems will host the first examples of artificial intelligence, so it will be able to tell and respond in kind should you, say, give it the finger for annoying error messages.

Think of the possibilities. Any flat surface will soon become an interface for our computers...soon entire walls will be nothing but giant screens for internet surfing in life-sized proportions, and we won't have to worry about things like dinner interfering with our games...we'll just convert the family dinner table into one giant game-fest.

Or is that asking for too much?


I see that smile.

Nessie's Back!

It's strange, seeing this sort of things pop up in the news. For years, ever since I was a kid, the Loch Ness Monster was a thing of fable. Like Bigfoot and UFOs, it was relegated to fuzzy photographs, drunken rambles, and the occasional (and often jinxed) scientific expeditions. But just yesterday, an amateur scientist caught what some are saying is a video "of such good quality that even the normally reticent BBC Scotland aired the video on its main news program on Tuesday."

Of course, being that no clear shot of ye ol' beastie is never had, the true mystery remains unsolved, but I felt a little tingle at the thought that I was looking at the newest, freshest piece of evidence that something might just be lurking below those waters after all this time.

According to the report, Nessie was first supposedly captured on film in the 1930s, and has since then been spotted more than 4,000 times. Some might think all the video shows is wave formation, or a school of fish...but I like to let the imagination run wild and believe that there is still plenty in this wide world that we have no clue about.

I see that smile.