Evolution in Education
Feb 28, 2011 Science
And we wonder how it is that our schools are falling behind in science?
Two Pieces from Strange Horizons
Feb 27, 2011 Science Fiction
I see why Jed Hartman calls Joan Aiken’s The Third Wish his favorite three-wishes story ever.
And I admit I’m not often into poetry, but I found this one by David C. Kopaska-Merkel to be kinda fun.
Ask a Writer
Feb 26, 2011 Other Writers
Tobias Buckell does an outstanding job answering a question on the Adventures of Sci-fi Publishing podcast. This is noteworthy for me because it made me remember how dangerous it is to jump to conclusions or go with your gut instinct. Beyond that, it helped make me think about the fun part of reading, and how authors can help this along.
In this case, the question is about how one goes about making reasonable equations or relationships between things when writing from an alien point of view. In other words, if you say “the boulder was the size of a truck” we all understand that. But an alien being may well not know what a truck is, so the alien rally can’t say that. So what’s a writer to do?
My gut instinct as I heard the question (while treading along on my treadmill) was to dismiss it out of hand. I mean, you just feel things out, you know? You put yourself in the point of view of the alien and you do your best, right? It’s a feel thing. An experience thing. In other words … what a damned silly question.
But it’s not a silly question at all. It’s a great question, and Toby gave an outstanding response that made me think both about my personal writing and about what it means about me that I jumped to such an unhealthy first response.
Hopefully it was just that I was getting tired. [grin].
It’s pretty deep in the podcast, and I don’t have a minute-point to note. But the whole thing is worth listening to.
“Ellipses…” Appears in Analog
Feb 26, 2011 Business, Short Stories
I’m excited to report that Analog has published my novelette “Ellipses…” in their May issue. Yes, I know it’s only February. Such is the strangeness of their publishing cycle. It’s a fun story for me to see make print. Hope you chase down a copy.
If you do, feel free to let me know what you think.
