Hiding with Wilmar H. Shiras

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See related image detail. Wilmar Shiras (September 23, 1908 — December 23, 1990), American writer ...Today, September 23, is the birthday of Wilmar H. Shiras (1908-1990). She wasn’t prolific, but what she lacked in quantity, she made up for in quality.

Her first published story was “In Hiding” in the November 1948 issue of Astounding. It concerned a mutant child who was much more intelligent that other children who was trying to hide his abilities.

Two sequels followed. All three stories were incorporated into the novel Children of the Atom. That’s the Science Fiction Book Club edition on the left.

This was the, for lack of a better term, golden age of nuclear mutation stories. The late forties and early fifties saw a number of stories about the harmful effects of nuclear radiation on humanity. Rumor, never confirmed, was that this book was, at least partially, the inspiration for the X-Men.

I read this in high school and could identify with the isolation the main character in “In Hiding” felt. I’m not sure how I would relate to it now. The book’s reputation has faded in the decades since it was written. It was still well known back in the year [REDACTED] when I read it. The world has moved on. Mutatns aren’t one of the things we fear as a culture. At at least they aren’t high on the list.

Have any of you read it?

 

H. G. Wells

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Today is September 25. It is the birthday of Herbert George Wells (1866-1946).

Wells should need no introduction to anyone reading this blog. War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, and The Invisible Man are familiar to almsot everyone, even if they haven’t actually read those books.

Wells wrote a lot more than that, though. He wrote a number of short stories.  His two best-kmown short stories are probably “The Country of the Blind” and “The Red Room”.

His influence on t he field fo science fiction cannot be overstated.

But does anyone really red him anymore? Or is he one of those authors, like some of the ones taught in English classes, that people are familiar with but don’t really read unless they are forced to.

Personally, Wells is someone I would like to read more of. (Too manyt books, too little timem.)

 

Starting a Newsletter?

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I’ve got a question for you. Actually, more than one. I’m going to start a newsletter at some point soon. The first thing I need to decide is what service to use. I’ve heard bad and good things about MailChimp. I know there are alternatives, and I have a vague memory of hearing negative things about them.

Do any of you have any suggestions?

Second question(s): What would you like to see in a newsletter you subscribed to? What would you not like to see? What make you not read a newsletter?

What are your ideas on frequency? Length? Content, meaning what should be included that wouldn’t be posted here on the blog?

Howard Waldrop

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Today is September 15, the birthday of Howard Waldrop (1946-2024). I hadn’t seen him for at least half a decade before he passed away. I miss him.

Howard only wrote a couple of novels, but he wrote some great short stories. One of my favorites is “The Ugly Chickens”, in which dodos survive almost into modern times. I had the privilege to sit at the same table with Howard and Geroge R. R. Martin at a dinner during the Conestoga convention one year. One of the things they discussed was making a film from this story.

Howard was always easy to talk to. I usually saw him at Armadillocon. He always seemed glad to see me.

Howard had a very distictive voice. Armadillocon always ended with Howard reading a shsort story. I can still hear his voice in my head when I read his work. If any recordings of Howard reading a story exist, I’d apprecizte someone letting me know where I can find them.

Arthur J. Burks, Forgotten Pulpster?

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Today is September 13. It is the birthday of Arthur J. Burks (1898-1974). Burks was a prolific contributor to the pulps, starting with Weird Tales in nineteen twenty-five. He soon branched out into science fiction and mysteries, but he continjued to appear in Weird Tales until that magazine folded in the early fifties. He stopped writing fiction, at least science fiction and fantasy, in the late fifties.

Centipede Press published a large volume of his work as part of their Masters of the Weird Tale series. The thing is the size of a small tombstone. Reading it is physically challenging because of its size.

I read the fist story in it, a novelette about a man in the mountains. I enjoyed it, but I haven’t tried to read any of the other stories in the book. Not because I don’t want to. By the time I usually am able to sit down and read, I don’t want a workout in hold ing the book.

Has anyone read anhy of Burks’ work?

Remembering Charles L. Grant

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It’s hard to believe that it’s been two decades since Charles L. Grant (1942-2006) left us. His birthday is today, September 12.

Highly prolific, Grant wrote novels and short stories under his own name and a number of pen names. Lionel Fenn was probably the most well-known. He wrote foru gothic novels under the name Deborah Lewis.

Grant was also a major editor. his landmark anthology series, Shadows, set a high standard for short horror and dark fantasy. They are worth tracking down. Reading them would be instructive to anyone wanting to write in a similar vein. He also edited stand alone anthologies and a series set in fictional Greystone Bay.

Grant was the preemininet practitioner of what is known as quiet horror. a subgenre that doesn’t depend on graphic content. That’s the type of horror I prefer. I’ll try to read one of his stories tonight.

What are your favorite Charles L. Grant stories?

Sean Monaghan’s “Strange Orbit”

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This is going to be a different kind of review. It’s of a short story that isn’t available to the public yet, at least as far as I know.  But the first novel of the series it is part of is available through a Kickstarter that is currenntly running.

Sean Monaghan is a New Zealand writer of science fiction and fantasy. I’ve gotten to know him through an online writer’s forum we’re both in. He’s a terrific writer and an all around standup kind of guy. I received “Strange Orbit” as a free gift for following his latest Kickstarter before it launched. {See. What’d  I tell you? An all around standup kind of guy.)

His Kickstarter is for Spin Trap, the first novel in a near-future science fiction series. “Strange Orbit” is set in the same universe.

“Strange Orbit” is a near future thriller about a rescue attempt in lunar orbit. Deacon Winchler, a major character in Spin Trap, is the central character. Deaon’s ship has to make a course change to rescue an astronaut in a damaged ship.

There is a time limit here. The astronaut only has a little air left, and it’s leaking. This was a tense story. Sean added a layer of depth to the tension that made this story more than just another rescue in space scenario. His characters have to face difficult (really difficult) choices, and he doesn’t leave them any outs. I was reminded of the classic “The Cold Equations” by the time I reached the end, although the choices aren’t as hard in Sean’s story.

They’re still hard, though. The equations are cold here, as well.

Deacon is a character that I want to read more about. And I will in the novel and some short stories.

Sean’s work has been published in Analog, Asimov’s, and Pulphouse, among other venures. I’ve read some of his short fiction. I’ve got a number of his books in my virtual TBR as well as one fantasy in my print TBR. He is quickly becoming one of my go-to writers. Based on what I’ve read so far of his work, the future of science fiction is in good hands.

Sean’s Kickstarter ends on the 10th, so you’ve got a few days to pledge. If you like high-stakes science fiction, check it out. He has additional books and stories as add-ons and stretch goals.

Feeling Like Fall…

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…not.

We’re into September now. The temperature was over 100 degrees today. Again.

Otherwise, everything looks like fall. Grass is turning brown. The leaves are falling. Not changing colors. Just falling because we desperately nbeed rain where I live. Looking around. It’s easy to fool yourself just looking out the window as you drive that it’s late October. The colors are similar.

Then you step out of the car. The temperature reminds you quickly that it is early September.

But I’m getting in the mood for more Bradbury. I’ve been listening to the audiobook of Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. I read it decades ago. I have an hour and a half left, more  or less. For some reason I’ve been in the mood for sceince fiction from the late fifties and early sixties. Not sure why.

When I finish this one,I may go back and listen to more of the Bradbury audio book I wrote about a few weeks ago if I don’t listen to some nonfiction first.

Or I might save it until the season and temperatures are more appropriate. I’ve read Dune a couple of times, but I want to listen to it. And at least Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. Not sure if I’ll go beyond those.

What are you folks reading?

Remembering James A. Moore

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Today, September 3, is the birthday of fantasy and horror author James A. Moore (1965-2024).

I never met Moore, but I’ve read and reviewed a few of his books here on the blog. I’m primarily familiar with his fantasy such as Seven Forges and  The Blasted Land, and The Last Sacrifice,  although I have some of his horror novels. I’ve also reviewed his collection This is Halloween. Moore also collaborated with Charles R. Rutledge on three novels in the Griffin and Price series.

Moore also wrote media tie-in novels. He collaborated with Christopher Golden as well as Rutledge.

I never met him, but from everything I understand, he was a great human being, friend, and mentor.

Not to mention one heck of a writer.

Everything of his I’ve read so far as always been excellent. If you haven’t read his work, you’ve missed out.