My flash fiction story “Land of the Beast” came out today in issue 18 at NewMyths.com.
This story began as a project in a creative writing class last year, and evolved into its present form. The editor of this ezine said he found it “deeply unsettling,” and I think that sums it up pretty well. If you could use some unsettling, follow the link above and click on issue 18.
Photo: by Darryl Smith, freelance photographer
A friend of mine sent this to me saying he wanted to base a D&D character off of it. This leads me to the obvious conclusion that the only thing greater than imagining a man riding around on a buffalo and fighting evil-doers is actually seeing it.
If you liked that (and who wouldn’t), make sure you check out the other episodes. And if you’re really feeling adventurous, you can watch the whole movie off of which it is based, Buffalo Rider.
I had a pleasant surprise a couple days ago.
Fellow spec-fiction author Jeff Chapman chose Brightmoor Confessions as his blog’s story of the week. He had very kind things to say in his review. Why not check it out here?
Thanks, Jeff!
So my wife read that this Christmas lots of folks were going old school and giving Christmas presents that carried nostalgia appeal. You know, stuff we loved as kids and can now pass on to our kids and get all misty-eyed and “back in my day” about. That sort of thing.
It must be true, because the most exciting (in my mind) gifts I got for my kids were the first seasons of Conan the Adventurer and Exo-Squad on DVD. Yes, you heard me right–those most awesome of television cartoons, the only shows that really warranted getting up at 6:00AM on Saturday mornings when the test patterns were still on (well, maybe add G.I. Joe to that list), have finally returned in all of their glory.
Exo-Squad follows the adventures of Lieutenant J.T. Marsh and the Exo-Fleet as they battle the brutal and blue Neo-Sapians. This show always stood out to me for its developing plot-line and its great space battles. If you missed it as a kid, I’m sorry for you. But it’s not too late!
Then there was Conan the Adventurer. This probably took pride of place for me as a kid, even over Exo-Squad. Conan and his sidekicks had some pretty rocking fantasy adventures–the kind of adventures I took to the back yard to have myself. There’s something about that theme song that gets me even now…
Now my only problem is figuring out whether my just-turned-four-year-old is really ready for these. Yet deep down I think I’m ready for both of us!
In the old days, I never cared for short stories. It seemed like just as I was getting into the characters and plot, it was over. This changed when I read George R.R. Martin’s Dreamsongs collections, and I realized that short form was actually a great way of exploring themes and situations without the full blown commitment of a novel (for either writer or reader).
Full Dark, No Stars only serves to demonstrate the punch that short stories can carry (although not all of the collection are true short stories–one at least is novella length or longer). Here we have five or six stories that, by King’s own admission, explore the depths of darkness and evil. The title is apt indeed. While many of King’s stories are dark, these push even further. I can’t think of anything I’ve read that that so clearly portrays the reality of depravity and evil. Yet at the same time that darkness is not glorified, for which I am thankful, and there seems to be a line of hope in most of these stories.
King’s effective characterization shines. From the farmer who reads the Greek classics, to to the writer who imagines and projects the voice of her cat, King’s characters ring with a peculiar believable quality. Combine this with good research about time periods and occupations (1922, advertising, coin-collecting), and these stories ring true.
My only serious complaint has to do with the ending of the story Fair Extension. It has a great premise and development, yet to me, the ending fails to deliver.
Greg Rating: 4.4 stars.
Content: R, at least. As all the above implies, Full Dark, No Stars pulls no punches in its depiction of evil. It contains graphic violence and sexuality, and is not for the faint of heart. Reader, be ye warned.
You may wonder why exactly I went with the name acrosseyesky. First off, I thought it rolled off the tongue rather nicely. Second, it can be interpreted in a variety of ways, which lends itself to the double and triple meanings I love so well.
Probably the main interpretation in my mind is actually “across eye sky,” in the sense of going across the skies that exist only in someone’s eyes. This strikes close to the heart of the speculative sort of fiction I aim to write.
As I searched the web for photo manipulations of eyes and stars, I came across several that really stood out to me. The following is one such work by Ali Ries, who does a ton of sci-fi related digital art. You can visit her website here. Enjoy!
I am pleased to announce that my first published story is now online at Fear and Trembling Magazine.
This whole story evolved out of my imagining how crazy it would be if a guy walked into a confessional and said, “Bless me Father, for I have skinned.” Why not check it out?
UPDATE: This story was recently chosen by Jeff Chapman as his story of the week. You can read his review here:
So as I was hunting the internet for a rockin’ header image, I came across this photo manipulation by Death-Summoner, with an original image by Ali Ries. It was exactly what I was looking for, an eye manipulation featuring space imagery with an otherworldly feel.
I had to crop it to fit the header, so here is the original image. Thanks, Marta and Ali!
Ok.
English is a pretty good language. Awfully well-rounded. Lots of words. The Oxford English Dictionary has entries for 171,476 words in current use, plus a bunch of ones no one likes anymore.
But gaps exist. For example, what if you wanted an efficient way to describe that feeling you get about 4:00 in the afternoon when your brain feels like melting butter, and you know you have lots to do, but you just can’t stop yourself from slumping in front of your computer while you rearrange your desktop icons into more and more pleasing shapes? I wish there was a word for that, and if there were, I would use it.
The other day I found myself needing a good hearty word to describe the tendency (from which some suffer) to dabble in the fantastic. But however could a poor, butter-brained grad student describe himself efficiently with reference to a compulsive interest in all things speculative–science fiction, fantasy, and horror?
Easy. I have a certain specuclivity.
That has a nice ring to it, right? Sort of official sounding. Sort of impressive. Sort of see-wife-I’m-really-not-just-a-kid-who-won’t-grow-up-it’s-just-that-I’ve-got-this-kind-of-genetic-thing-and-I’m-pretty-much-a-tortured-artist-and-well-actually-I’m-pretty-happy-but-it’s-not-my-fault-so-I-should-pretty-much-try-to-be-a-genius-and-that-means-instead-of-going-out-on-a-date-we-should-stay-home-and–watch-the-Walking-Dead-cause-it’s-important-research-in-light-of-my-genetic-predestination.
So, without further ado:
Spec·u·cliv·i·ty, noun, plural -ties.
A natural or habitual inclination toward speculation, most commonly with reference to fictional endeavers. “Johnny does have a certain specuclivity, poor boy.”
Origin: 2011; Latin prōclīvitās, speculātīvus
Synonyms: affliction, compulsion, blessing
Antonyms: aversion, dullness
I invite you to join my quest to make this entry number 171,477 in the next edition of the Oxford English Dictionary!
© 2011-2012 acrosseyesky All Rights Reserved--header image by Death-Summoner