If I could have one superpower, I think it would be the ability to split myself into multiple bodies. That way, maybe I wouldn’t be so far behind on reading, writing, and review. You know, the important stuff.
Anyway I promised Adrian Simmons, the editor of Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, a review for both the previous and current issues. Both are strong issues. Continue reading
Rocket’s Red Glare, a space opera anthology from Rough Edges Press and edited by James Reasoner is now available for preorder.
Here’s the jacket copy:
From distant galaxies to the mean streets of Hollywood . . . from the war-torn skies of France in 1918 to the far side of the moon . . . The stories in Rocket’s Red Glare exemplify the adventure, courage, and sense of discovery so vital to the American spirit. Whether daring to cross interstellar space or battling alien conquerors when they come right to our own back yard, the characters in these tales never give up, never stop fighting for their country, their lives, their honor. Featuring all-new stories by Sarah A. Hoyt (part of her USAian series), Brad R. Torgersen, Martin L. Shoemaker, Lou Antonelli, James Reasoner, and more, Rocket’s Red Glare is packed with space opera excitement, dazzling scientific speculation, gritty action, and compelling characters.
Rocket’s Red Glare is only available in electronic format ($6.99) at the moment. the print edition will be out within the next few weeks. This is a stellar lineup, and I’m proud to be part of this anthology.
UPDATE: Both electronic and print copies are now available.
Manly Wade Wellman was born, this day, May 21, in 1903 in Portuguese West Africa. He was one of the greatest writers of horror and dark fantasy of the 20th Century, although he’s not as well known today as he should be. His best known literary creation was John the Balladeer, and wandering minstrel of the Appalachian mountains. Wellman began writing in the 1920s, and sold a number of stories to Weird Tales. He was still writing in the 1970s and 1980s, and a number of his short stories were published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
In honor of his birthday, I’m going to look at two short stories. Both were published in the pulps in the late 1930s. I read both of them in Sin’s Doorway and Other Ominous Entrances, published by Night Shade Books in 2003. It’s volume 4 of the 5 volume The Selected Stories of Manly Wade Wellman. Continue reading
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “relevant” as “having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand” and “having social relevance”. Just so we’re on the same page, relevance is defined as “practical and especially social applicability” and “the ability to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user”.
Anne McCaffrey Photo: Edmond Ross/ Random House
Why, I’m sure you’re asking, am I quoting the dictionary? Well, Monday on the interwebz, one side of a conversation was showing up in my Twitter feed. I’ve been trying to stay off Twitter these days because it’s a time sink, and I don’t have much time to sink. What caught my attention was a quoted tweet from a person in the conversation whom I don’t follow. The statement was “I’d recommend broadening your horizons. Anything written in the last 15 years is more relevant than McCaffery’s entire oeuvre”.
Some context, and no, I’m not going to name the person who said that. My intention is not to engage in personal attacks but to challenge the mindset behind the words because it’s pretty widespread. Seems someone somewhere declared this week Space Opera Week. Tor dot com is posting a number of essays on that theme. There was one post that brought out the old saw about women haven’t traditionally written space opera, and the few that have, well, they wrote it from a man’s perspective, horror of horrors. Brackett and Moore, in other words.
Certain parties responded. Conversations ensued. Anne McCaffrey’s name was brought up. The statement above was made.
Let that sink in. Yes, you heard it right. Someone said that anything written in the last 15 years was more relevant than Anne Freakin’ McCaffrey’s entire oeuvre. Continue reading
The StoryHack Kickstarter has gone live! If you want to experience some action-oriented pulp adventure, you’ll want to check this one out.
There’s an Issue 0 already out, done as a proof concept. The cover is there. As I said in yesterday’s post, I’m excited to be included in the first issue. It’s available for free during the duration of the Kickstarter campaign, just go here. And if you like the contents, please think about supporting.
I’m a day or two late on this announcement since I left town the day it was made, but StoryHack Issue 0 has gone live. The electronic version is currently $1 on Amazon. Bryce Beattie, the editor and publisher, has put it up for free on Smashwords, as well as Barnes and Noble, so Amazon should price match soon. There’s also a print version for $9.99.
I’m excited about StoryHack, and not just because I have a story in it. (I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about having a story in it.) I’m encouraged by the number of startup publications with an emphasis on action and adventure. It looks like we’re about to have a renaissance of pulp sensibilities, and that’s a good thing.
StoryHack Issue 0 is free because it’s a proof of concept for a Kickstarter campaign to launch the magazine. The Kickstarter should go live in the next day or three. Get a copy, read it, and if you like what you see, pledge the Kickstarter. I’ll let you know when it launches.