Torn World: "The Heat-Thief"

You can now read my article "The Heat-Thief" over in Torn World.  This is a huge, ferocious sea monster native to northerly waters.

If you like this article and want to see more like it, please consider sending me credits or karma through Torn World's crowdfunding options.  Not a Torn World member, but still want to support the work? I have a permanent PayPal button on my LJ profile page.

Torn World: "The Heat-Thief"

You can now read my article "The Heat-Thief" over in Torn World.  This is a huge, ferocious sea monster native to northerly waters.

If you like this article and want to see more like it, please consider sending me credits or karma through Torn World's crowdfunding options.  Not a Torn World member, but still want to support the work? I have a permanent PayPal button on my LJ profile page.

Torn World: "The Heat-Thief"

You can now read my article "The Heat-Thief" over in Torn World.  This is a huge, ferocious sea monster native to northerly waters.

If you like this article and want to see more like it, please consider sending me credits or karma through Torn World's crowdfunding options.  Not a Torn World member, but still want to support the work? I have a permanent PayPal button on my LJ profile page.

Torn World: "The Heat-Thief"

You can now read my article "The Heat-Thief" over in Torn World.  This is a huge, ferocious sea monster native to northerly waters.

If you like this article and want to see more like it, please consider sending me credits or karma through Torn World's crowdfunding options.  Not a Torn World member, but still want to support the work? I have a permanent PayPal button on my LJ profile page.

Song: "It's Okay To Be Takei"

 I'm pleased to link to "It's Okay To Be Takei" by catsittingstill.  Gay youth need to know that they have a right to exist and to love whomever they wish to love.  Poke a censor in the eye, pass along this song.  

Poem: "Aniara"

 "Aniara" is an excerpt, in translation, of a science fiction poem originally written in Swedish.  What would you do if you went out into space and then started to suspect that outer space wasn't what you thought it would be?

Torn World: Two New Things

You can now read my article "Sea Monsters in the West" over on Torn World.  It describes the western ocean and touches on the marine megafauna there.

Also, I highly recommend the story "Storm Wrack" by wyld_dandelyon.  It deals with gender discrimination in a part of the Empire where no-gender people are rare and disliked, and how the main character responds to that situation.  One challenge in writing about nonstandard genders is what pronoun set to use.  English doesn't really offer good options.  Now Torn Tongue has personal pronouns that don't specify gender ... but some no-gender people choose not to use them, and instead use one of the impersonal sets.  So this story uses the abstract impersonal pronouns from Torn Tongue, as explained in a foreword.  If you like genderfic, give this story a look; I think you'll enjoy it.

The people in the town Ferelye was born in are uncomfortable with no-gender people, and as Ferelye gets older, ur spends more and more time hiding out on a tall cliff near roi home.

Torn World: Two New Things

You can now read my article "Sea Monsters in the West" over on Torn World.  It describes the western ocean and touches on the marine megafauna there.

Also, I highly recommend the story "Storm Wrack" by wyld_dandelyon.  It deals with gender discrimination in a part of the Empire where no-gender people are rare and disliked, and how the main character responds to that situation.  One challenge in writing about nonstandard genders is what pronoun set to use.  English doesn't really offer good options.  Now Torn Tongue has personal pronouns that don't specify gender ... but some no-gender people choose not to use them, and instead use one of the impersonal sets.  So this story uses the abstract impersonal pronouns from Torn Tongue, as explained in a foreword.  If you like genderfic, give this story a look; I think you'll enjoy it.

The people in the town Ferelye was born in are uncomfortable with no-gender people, and as Ferelye gets older, ur spends more and more time hiding out on a tall cliff near roi home.

Torn World: Two New Things

You can now read my article "Sea Monsters in the West" over on Torn World.  It describes the western ocean and touches on the marine megafauna there.

Also, I highly recommend the story "Storm Wrack" by wyld_dandelyon.  It deals with gender discrimination in a part of the Empire where no-gender people are rare and disliked, and how the main character responds to that situation.  One challenge in writing about nonstandard genders is what pronoun set to use.  English doesn't really offer good options.  Now Torn Tongue has personal pronouns that don't specify gender ... but some no-gender people choose not to use them, and instead use one of the impersonal sets.  So this story uses the abstract impersonal pronouns from Torn Tongue, as explained in a foreword.  If you like genderfic, give this story a look; I think you'll enjoy it.

The people in the town Ferelye was born in are uncomfortable with no-gender people, and as Ferelye gets older, ur spends more and more time hiding out on a tall cliff near roi home.

Torn World: Two New Things

You can now read my article "Sea Monsters in the West" over on Torn World.  It describes the western ocean and touches on the marine megafauna there.

Also, I highly recommend the story "Storm Wrack" by wyld_dandelyon.  It deals with gender discrimination in a part of the Empire where no-gender people are rare and disliked, and how the main character responds to that situation.  One challenge in writing about nonstandard genders is what pronoun set to use.  English doesn't really offer good options.  Now Torn Tongue has personal pronouns that don't specify gender ... but some no-gender people choose not to use them, and instead use one of the impersonal sets.  So this story uses the abstract impersonal pronouns from Torn Tongue, as explained in a foreword.  If you like genderfic, give this story a look; I think you'll enjoy it.

The people in the town Ferelye was born in are uncomfortable with no-gender people, and as Ferelye gets older, ur spends more and more time hiding out on a tall cliff near roi home.

Monday Update 5-23-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:
Social Bots
Humans and the Planet
Have Prawn, Will Apocalypse
The End Is Near ... Do You Have Your Pr0n?
Of Robots and Language

These posts all relate to Torn World:
Updated Sketch for "Without Fail"
Torn World: "Sea Monsters in Southern Waters"
Torn World: "The Thunder-Whale"
Torn World: "Sea Serpent"
Torn World: "The Smartarm"


Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "Lookbacks," "On the Rocks," "Without Fail," (fiction) "Steam Power," "Cage of Hope" (poetry).  Back to me for edits: "Cutting Time," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board: "Clouds in the Morning," "Scars of Stone" (fiction) and "The Shipwright's Song" (poetry).  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "The Green Speech," "Catch and Release," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "Swept Away" (fiction).  Currently writing: "From Dark to Bright," "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day" (fiction).

The epic poem "Igor's Creature" is now in microfunding.  This is ... well, a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production. 

We're making gradual progress with the yard.  There are paths mowed to most of the places we need to visit, and some open areas mowed down to serve as lawn.  Parts of the unmowed areas are shoulder-deep in grass now.  The butterfly meadow is only about knee-deep though.  It looks like most of the new native grasses are surviving, although some of the wildflowers got devoured by wildlife.  I've managed to weed, shear, and prune around some of the gardens and other function areas.  This week calls for rain, rain, and more rain.  Not much yardwork.  Maybe more writing, though.

Monday Update 5-23-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:
Social Bots
Humans and the Planet
Have Prawn, Will Apocalypse
The End Is Near ... Do You Have Your Pr0n?
Of Robots and Language

These posts all relate to Torn World:
Updated Sketch for "Without Fail"
Torn World: "Sea Monsters in Southern Waters"
Torn World: "The Thunder-Whale"
Torn World: "Sea Serpent"
Torn World: "The Smartarm"


Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "Lookbacks," "On the Rocks," "Without Fail," (fiction) "Steam Power," "Cage of Hope" (poetry).  Back to me for edits: "Cutting Time," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board: "Clouds in the Morning," "Scars of Stone" (fiction) and "The Shipwright's Song" (poetry).  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "The Green Speech," "Catch and Release," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "Swept Away" (fiction).  Currently writing: "From Dark to Bright," "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day" (fiction).

The epic poem "Igor's Creature" is now in microfunding.  This is ... well, a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production. 

We're making gradual progress with the yard.  There are paths mowed to most of the places we need to visit, and some open areas mowed down to serve as lawn.  Parts of the unmowed areas are shoulder-deep in grass now.  The butterfly meadow is only about knee-deep though.  It looks like most of the new native grasses are surviving, although some of the wildflowers got devoured by wildlife.  I've managed to weed, shear, and prune around some of the gardens and other function areas.  This week calls for rain, rain, and more rain.  Not much yardwork.  Maybe more writing, though.

Monday Update 5-23-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:
Social Bots
Humans and the Planet
Have Prawn, Will Apocalypse
The End Is Near ... Do You Have Your Pr0n?
Of Robots and Language

These posts all relate to Torn World:
Updated Sketch for "Without Fail"
Torn World: "Sea Monsters in Southern Waters"
Torn World: "The Thunder-Whale"
Torn World: "Sea Serpent"
Torn World: "The Smartarm"


Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "Lookbacks," "On the Rocks," "Without Fail," (fiction) "Steam Power," "Cage of Hope" (poetry).  Back to me for edits: "Cutting Time," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board: "Clouds in the Morning," "Scars of Stone" (fiction) and "The Shipwright's Song" (poetry).  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "The Green Speech," "Catch and Release," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "Swept Away" (fiction).  Currently writing: "From Dark to Bright," "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day" (fiction).

The epic poem "Igor's Creature" is now in microfunding.  This is ... well, a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production. 

We're making gradual progress with the yard.  There are paths mowed to most of the places we need to visit, and some open areas mowed down to serve as lawn.  Parts of the unmowed areas are shoulder-deep in grass now.  The butterfly meadow is only about knee-deep though.  It looks like most of the new native grasses are surviving, although some of the wildflowers got devoured by wildlife.  I've managed to weed, shear, and prune around some of the gardens and other function areas.  This week calls for rain, rain, and more rain.  Not much yardwork.  Maybe more writing, though.

Monday Update 5-23-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:
Social Bots
Humans and the Planet
Have Prawn, Will Apocalypse
The End Is Near ... Do You Have Your Pr0n?
Of Robots and Language

These posts all relate to Torn World:
Updated Sketch for "Without Fail"
Torn World: "Sea Monsters in Southern Waters"
Torn World: "The Thunder-Whale"
Torn World: "Sea Serpent"
Torn World: "The Smartarm"


Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "Lookbacks," "On the Rocks," "Without Fail," (fiction) "Steam Power," "Cage of Hope" (poetry).  Back to me for edits: "Cutting Time," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board: "Clouds in the Morning," "Scars of Stone" (fiction) and "The Shipwright's Song" (poetry).  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "The Green Speech," "Catch and Release," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "Swept Away" (fiction).  Currently writing: "From Dark to Bright," "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day" (fiction).

The epic poem "Igor's Creature" is now in microfunding.  This is ... well, a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production. 

We're making gradual progress with the yard.  There are paths mowed to most of the places we need to visit, and some open areas mowed down to serve as lawn.  Parts of the unmowed areas are shoulder-deep in grass now.  The butterfly meadow is only about knee-deep though.  It looks like most of the new native grasses are surviving, although some of the wildflowers got devoured by wildlife.  I've managed to weed, shear, and prune around some of the gardens and other function areas.  This week calls for rain, rain, and more rain.  Not much yardwork.  Maybe more writing, though.

Schrodinger's Heroes: "...And Relative Dimensions" (Part 4)

This podcast script is a piece of crossover fanfic (for Schrodinger's Heroes / Doctor Who) somewhat inspired by recent conversations with my audience. Begin with Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 if you missed them.


[Inside the Ring, Kay and Chris are still fiddling with the TARDIS and the pickup truck in hopes of finding some combination that will actually move. The Doctor flutters around them, fussing at them to be careful.]

Kay: [Talking on the phone with Alex again.] "Okay, I'll check. Hey, Doc -- how well do you deal with people who don't look the way you do?"

The Doctor: "My dear, you don't look the way I do -- especially on the inside. I'm quite happy to deal with a wide range of people, as long as they don't try to exterminate me."

Kay: "We're good here. Send Tim on out."

The Doctor: "Who is this Tim?"

Kay: "Well, a while back, Alex decided to test how far the Tef could reach --"

The Doctor: "Maxing out one's equipment is generally a very poor idea."

Chris: "We kinda figgered that out for ourselves, thanks."

Kay: "So anyway, Alex, whose equipment this is so we don't tell her no unless we think she's about to blow something up--"

Chris: [Muttering.] "Which is at least once a week."

Kay: "-- set up this experiment and she tapped into Tim's home dimension. Then the Tef snapped back along the vector like a rubber band, pulling Tim and half his office building along with it."

Chris: "You should've seen the mess that made."

Kay: "Alex and I were out here scouting when the Tef snapped. First I saw of Tim was a tentacle monster carrying Alex's unconscious body out of the rubble. Luckily for him I decided not to shoot him, on account of I didn't want him to drop her, and later we figured out that he wasn't actually a monster after all. But Alex hasn't managed to send him home yet, so he's stuck here."

Chris: "Hope you have better luck, Doc."

The Doctor: "I have escaped from far worse situations than this, though to be fair, most of those involved The Master separating me from the TARDIS."

Kay: "Sounds like another nemesis for our database. Can you give us a description?"

The Doctor: "Not one that would mean much to you."

Chris: "Well, that's just peachy."


Schrodinger's Heroes also has a menu post.

Awesome Origami Images

my_partner_doug showed me this page.  It has photos of several finished origami figures along with what the paper woudl look like unfolded.  The mind boggles, bows in awe, and falls flat on its face, too dazed to stand upright.

Awesome Origami Images

my_partner_doug showed me this page.  It has photos of several finished origami figures along with what the paper woudl look like unfolded.  The mind boggles, bows in awe, and falls flat on its face, too dazed to stand upright.

Awesome Origami Images

my_partner_doug showed me this page.  It has photos of several finished origami figures along with what the paper woudl look like unfolded.  The mind boggles, bows in awe, and falls flat on its face, too dazed to stand upright.

Awesome Origami Images

my_partner_doug showed me this page.  It has photos of several finished origami figures along with what the paper woudl look like unfolded.  The mind boggles, bows in awe, and falls flat on its face, too dazed to stand upright.

Bird Art

Crested pigeon and friends in vivid colors.

Fanbingo

 I was amused by this fanbingo prompt card.  The original thread has lots more prompts.  This sort of thing can be fun if you are stuck for ideas, and plenty of them generalize to original fiction too.

Origami Art

 This is a tulip.  The flower and the stem fold are apparently separate.  I do think the stem is cool.

Science Fiction Remix

 This is better science fiction than what usually wins the Nebula.