This is a very short story (about 2400 words, or roughly the length of one of my average chapters in a book) which was originally written just as a spinoff of a Usenet discussion. The context was that we were trying to decide if there were any magical effects which could not be duplicated by technology -- i.e., whose presence immediately signaled we were dealing with magic, not science (even Sufficiently Advanced Science). One of the participants put forward the Gorgon/Basilisk/Medusa effect of "turn to stone when you look at [ Continue reading... ]
Under the Influence: The Stars My Destination
March 15, 2013 By 5 Comments
Gully Foyle is my name And Terra is my nation Deep space is my dwelling place And Death's my destination Alfred Bester produced many excellent short stories in his career, but he is best known for two novels; one is The Demolished Man, a tale of police procedure and investigation in a world of telepaths. The other is The Stars My Destination, AKA Tiger! Tiger! in some places. The Stars My Destination is often called The Count of Monte-Cristo… IN SPAAACE!, and certainly it was inspired by that [ Continue reading... ]
[Not] On my Shelves: Mighty Max
March 13, 2013 By 3 Comments
Mighty Max was a short-lived cartoon (one year in the early 1990s) which deserved far more recognition than it got. It shares with ROM:Spaceknight the distinction of being inspired by a toy line, but the toy line in this case was rather more successful than the show. The basic plot of Mighty Max was relatively simple, if peculiar: the eponymous Max is a young boy – specific age not given but he appears to be maybe 13-14 – whose mother is an archaeologist. The latter is important as this is why he's able to read the [ Continue reading... ]
Under the Influence: Doctor Who
March 11, 2013 By 10 Comments
I cross the void beyond the mind The empty space that circles time; I see where others stumble blind To seek a truth they'll never find. Eternal wisdom is my guide; I am – The Doctor. --Jon Pertwee, 3rd Doctor The longest running and one of the most influential science-fiction television shows ever created, Doctor Who is a titan amidst pygmies, larger than life in every direction and three times as confusing. Beginning in the early 1960s as a children's adventure show, it quickly drew a much more diverse and [ Continue reading... ]
PORTAL: Chapter 25
March 6, 2013 By 2 Comments
This is the last snippet of PORTAL that I'll be posting, since the eARC is now available for those who HAVE to read the rest NOW; this puts you just under halfway through the book. I may post a few more chapters just before the release of the hardcover. ----- Chapter 25. "My God this is beautiful!" It wasn’t the first time she'd expressed those sentiments in the last hour, but Helen couldn't restrain herself, and the others didn't seem bothered. The walls of the huge, [ Continue reading... ]
PORTAL: Chapter 24
March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
There was still some other work to do before they went on their jaunt... ----- "Careful!" Joe said reflexively as the huge assembly wobbled. "Sorry," Horst said from the other side. "It is not easy, moving this thing while keeping it steady. Not exactly the best-balanced object we've moved." He couldn't argue that. Nebula Storm's rocket nozzle, once meant as a replacement for Nobel's in case of damage, was a massive, bell-shaped assembly that looked deceptively simple from the [ Continue reading... ]
PORTAL: Chapter 23
March 1, 2013 By 1 Comment
They had repairs to do... ----- Madeline checked the integrity of the support structure member again. We don't want a repeat of the last time, that is for certain. The new gantry was being heavily reinforced. While they didn't expect to have this problem again, especially with a new set of modified automated brakes in place that Brett and Joe had designed and tested, no one saw any point in taking chances. Athena's new supports would hold even if the probe fell a good thirty meters instead [ Continue reading... ]
PORTAL: Chapter 22
February 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Well, SOMETHING bad had happened... ----- "Holy shit!" A.J. did not apologize for the curse. At nearly the same instant, Joe Buckley said, "God damn it!", followed by "Ow ow OW!" "I see yellow and red on your telltales, Joe!" Petra said, having obviously switched in her medical monitors. "Talk to me!" "Goddamn… stupid… universe…" they heard Joe mutter. "Got a hole punched through the suit." "Through the carbonan?" A.J. said incredulously, jamming [ Continue reading... ]
PORTAL: Chapter 21
February 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Well, it's time to welcome a new guest to Europa... ------ "Welcome to Europa, General," Madeline said as he stepped out of Munin. For a moment, he didn't answer. He had seen many spectacular and awesome views already on this journey, enough to make him fear at times that he would lose the capacity for wonder. But the sight of mighty Jove looming above the jagged-spiked horizon, looking down upon the small white-shining collection of shelters and the bronze-colored alien shape of [ Continue reading... ]
PORTAL: Chapter 20
February 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Now, they have to deal with a subtle but definite problem of space travel: low gravity... ----- "Argh!" A.J. said with articulate precision. Joe looked over at his friend, who was currently settling back down to Europa's surface, still clinging to one of the wrenches designed for use in space-walk conditions. "Didn't lock yourself down again, eh?" A.J. muttered something that didn't sound at all friendly. "I keep getting focused on getting the work done and forget where I am. Stop [ Continue reading... ]
What You’re Saying