(Whether Offering or Receiving It) Critique is a hard thing to deal with. In my wish to become a successful writer I had to learn, not only to deal with, but appreciate it. I’m no masochist. Nonetheless the more I…
Sentence and Paragraph Length and Reading Modes
There are four reading modes: oral reading to an audience, oral reading to oneself, silent reading, silent reading while listening. There are many studies about which one of these modes is better for reading comprehension. It seems like oral reading…
Themes and Cultural References in SFF
Themes, deeper meanings, and literary and cultural references enrich readers’ experiences, but they can get lost in translation if the reader didn’t grow up with those traditions. Or, they can turn into a fun treasure hunt that keeps on giving….
Belief and Religion in SFF
I attended a fantastic panel during Chicon8 about Belief and Religion in science fiction and fantasy. I appreciated the distinction between belief and religion. In my opinion, religion, faith, and spirituality, which is different from spiritualism, are all part of…
Virtual Chicon8 and My Stubbornness
Monday, September 5th 2022 I attended the virtual option of Chicon8. My mom arrives in three weeks for a three month stay. I didn’t want to risk getting sick prior to her arrival. One would think staying at home and…
Science & Mystery Fiction Mash-Up
I’m a fan of Mystery Fiction. I enjoy reading classics of the genre as well as contemporary works. I’m particularly thrilled when I find a science fiction novel with a murder mystery plot. Here are some books I believe fit…
Wake of War by Zac Topping
Coming up on July/19th Wake of War is a near future, military sci-if that places the reader smack in the middle of the action. The political struggles that led to the conflict depicted in the book aren’t front and center,…
Isaac Asimov’s Science and Mystery Fiction Mash-Up Trilogy
Influences of different mystery fiction periods and sub-genres on The Caves of Steel and the other two works in Asimov’s science and mystery fiction mash-up trilogy. If you haven’t read The Caves of Steel yet, beware. Even though I tried…
Death with Interruptions and The Immortality of José Saramago
José Saramago writes with intent. Nothing is laid on the page that doesn’t have a purpose and a meaning, being it social or political. He’s a critic of the way we live, interact, communicate, love, work, make decisions, and die….
The Unspeakable McInch: Beginnings of the Science and Mystery Fiction Mash-Up
Astounding Science Fiction’s editor, John W. Campbell, once said that mystery and science fiction were incompatible genres. He stated that science fiction writers could invent convenient facts and technologies in an imaginary future to circumvent the deductive process. Hal Clement’s…