Looking back over my prior posts, I find myself startled to discover that I have not yet discussed the single most successful and perhaps influential fantasy series written since I was born: Harry Potter, by J. K. Rowling. The vast majority, if not all, of the people reading my columns will know the story of Harry, but just in case: the basic concept of the series is that Harry Potter was left as an orphan with his only relatives, the Dursleys, and raised (poorly) by them for eleven years; at that point he discovers [ Continue reading... ]
Under the Influence: Usenet
March 20, 2015 By 2 Comments
I have previously discussed, in more broad terms, my entry into and participation in the world of online communication, starting when I was only 14, discovering the existence of email and bulletin boards through the local high-school computer network. There were, and are, many different ways of participating in social interaction online – email in its many guises, bulletin boards, IRC, LiveJournal, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook – but the one that has been the longest-enduring for me, and certainly the most influential on me over the [ Continue reading... ]
Under the Influence: SunDog: Frozen Legacy
March 6, 2015 By 6 Comments
Many years ago, I was one of the relatively few whose personal computer was not an IBM-clone or an Apple, nor even an Amiga, but an Atari ST; a lot of people don't even realize that Atari did indeed build full-fledged computers in those days, and quite good ones. Of course, being a splinter market, they did not always get all the software one might want. But they did have, for a short time, the company called FTL Games, and that meant two milestone games: Dungeon Master, one of the first 3-D dungeon-crawl games (and precursor of other [ Continue reading... ]
On My Shelves: The Cometeers/One Against the Legion/Nowhere Near
March 4, 2015 By 2 Comments
Jack Williamson's The Legion of Space was only the first in the Legion series. As I read the Legion stories in a single omnibus edition, Three From the Legion, containing The Legion of Space, The Cometeers, One Against the Legion, and the novella Nowhere Near, I had originally planned to review the omnibus as a single book. However, I found that reviewing The Legion of Space itself was worth a complete entry. Thus, I complete my review of that omnibus in this second entry. There was a fourth Legion novel – Queen of the Legion – which I will [ Continue reading... ]
On My Shelves: The Legion of Space
March 2, 2015 By 2 Comments
Jack Williamson published his first story in 1928. His last novel was published in 2005. His writing career thus spanned *nine decades* -- from the 1920s to the 2000s. Of all his works, the tales of the Legion of Space may be the most enduring. (Note: that link goes to the omnibus edition Three From the Legion, which is OOP but apparently widely available, and happens to also be the edition I first read the novel in) The original Legion tale, The Legion of Space, was first serialized in 1934, a contemporary of the Skylark and Lensman series [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 28
February 27, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Miri had just seen something startling... ------ Chapter 28. Miri stepped into her guestroom at the Reflect's mansion and closed the door, leaning against it heavily. I'm shaking! Shaking like a terrified human! Her current body was human, in a way… but in all the centuries she'd been in such bodies, she'd never had such a reaction. Miri held her arm up in front of her, watched the trembling of the delicate hand, the imprecision of its movements, with stunned fascination; it took twice as long as normal [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 27
February 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Kyri had just had a "... he's right behind me, isn't he?" moment... ------ Chapter 27. Tobimar tensed, and began to bring up the High Center. If things go bad, we will need all my skill. I don't know exactly what Kyri was doing there, but I could tell she just pushed herself a long ways. Poplock scuttled up his leg, even as Reflect Jenten spoke. "You imply that I –" Kyri stepped between the house and the Reflect. "Both of you, pause a moment, before accusations and fear drive you to actions that will [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 26
February 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Our Heroes were heading north to deliver justice, which might be difficult... ------ Chapter 26. The echoing, many-layered murmur ahead of them was unmistakable; they had heard something similar on the day they had – with Xavier – confronted Bolthawk and Skyharrier. It was a crowd, perhaps a mob. Hiriista broke into a trotting run, his tail held high, head maintaining a steady level to guide him. Kyri sprinted alongside of him. Please, Myrionar, let us be in time! The forest opened up ahead, and a [ Continue reading... ]
Phoenix in Shadow: Chapter 25
February 20, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Our friends were traveling... ------- Chapter 25. "Magewright Hiriista," the Artan said, his delicate features taut with concern, "I implore you and your companions to give us aid." Hiriista cocked his head, and Tobimar thought there was a miniscule smile implied. "Perhaps if you were to state your problem, my companions Tobimar and Phoenix,and I, might be able to say if we can be of any assistance. Your face is somewhat familiar, but I regret to say I do not quite recall…" "Atcha!" The sound was an [ Continue reading... ]
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