I’m pleased to announce that my exoplanet biological research story, “Divinity” has been purchased for publication by Perihelion Science Fiction. This is my fourth sale to Perihelion, and I’m thrilled to be working with editor Sam Bellotto Jr once more.
I’ll post a release date as soon as it becomes available.
Don’t fall for it. What you’re clicking on is known as “link bait”. It’s a clever (or not so clever depending on how you look at it) way to trick you into visiting web sites by clicking links. Even professional news organizations are starting to implement these schemes.
Animals are not leaving Yellowstone. In fact, in the viral footage, the bison are actually entering the park. Besides, they use the roads every day. This is nothing new.
Yes, if the Yellowstone super volcano explores, we’re all screwed. The effects would be nothing like we’ve ever seen before. It’s a very real and serious concern. However, don’t be taken in by sensationalistic elements.
You might be surprised to learn that a certain animal is heading to Yellowstone National Park: the osprey. Fresh from their wintering grounds in South America, the ospreys should begin making their way at any moment back to the shores and lakes of the north country. They have great taste in where they build nests and breed.
Welcome back, weary travelers.
Great new song from M83. I have no idea what the movie is about. Have yourself a listen:
2013 was an excellent year, and as the Hugos and other awards move forward, I’m posting my published fiction for 2013. This is also my last year of qualification for the John W. Campbell Best New Writer Award. I’m thrilled with that.
“Hydra” – AE: The Canadian Science Fiction Review – November 2013
“Swampy Transitions” – Plasma Frequency Magazine – December 2013
“Carillion’s Schemes” – Perihelion Science Fiction – October 2013
“Fletcher’s Mountains” – Perihelion Science Fiction – June, 2013
“Lost Branch of the Silver” – Bards and Sages Quarterly – October 2013
“Uncommon Ally” – Penumbra Magazine – May 2013
“Krieger” – Interstellar Fiction – April 2013
I’ve been asked which of my short stories is my favorite. That’s a tough one. If pressed, I’d say Fletcher’s Mountains is the best short story I’ve published. But you know what they say about a writer’s ability to judge his/her work. “Hydra” has perhaps received the best feedback. Either way, it’s been a great ride these past few years, and I look forward to keeping this momentum.
Amongst the outdoor crowd, these places are often avoided, whispered about as “unsightly”, and left for the animals. I don’t feel that way. Although I enjoy nothing more than verdant forest and mountain streams, there’s a certain sincerity to these fire recovery zones. This sincerity is rooted in the truth of Earth. We were born of fire and ash. This is a violent, devastating, volcanic planet.
Hikers who encounter a burn recovery zone are not witnessing an outlier, or death. What they see is a birth.
I’ll gladly spend all day amongst these silver snags, fishing, daydreaming and hiking. These recovery zones are warmer, and often you can find me basking on a rock like an albino lizard. They also make great grasshopper habitat, and thus the streams are rife with the sound of bony trout jaws smacking crunchy grasshoppers. If one is a fly-fisherman, a hopper pattern would be a good bet here.
Hikers often pass right through recovery zones, not bothering with photos. They’ll continue on to greener, non-burned forests, where they’ll pop selfies. You’ll never find these snags in their photo albums. “Too unsightly”, they’ll say. Or ugly.
But black bears don’t mind, nor various species of woodpeckers. And neither do I. If you’re ever in the mountains, and you see a lunatic lounging about one of these recovery zones, offer a friendly wave and he’ll wave back. And maybe, stick around for a bit. You may find this aesthetic the most pleasing of them all.
A fire recovery zone, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana.
