Author Archives: Eric

Behind The Curtain

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I’ve posted a couple of times lately about the new story I’ve got coming out in TV Gods, but I don’t want this to be the “promote my work” channel.

I like the idea of getting a peek behind the curtain from time to time and thought I’d offer one of my own.

Both of my stories that have been published in the Defending The Future series feature military members that are part of “Resource Command”. I suspect there are a lot of non-genre folks that would see this as a kind of prediction that science fiction is commonly known for. I don’t believe for a moment that fans will be shocked to hear that real science in combination with other news sources were part of the inspiration behind a military command group based around fighting for resources.

There has been news in many forms about climate change and associated dangers. There have even been official reports and news about those reports. It’s a simple extrapolation really. Take an idea from that – there will be riots in the future because people can’t get enough clean water – then ask – how to many places respond to riots? With force. Suddenly there’s a police or military need to respond to what people are doing about getting water. Voila – military science fiction story idea.

I genuinely hope we don’t ever need a military command to oversee who gets water and who does not. I don’t believe that will end well for anyone – except perhaps the already super wealthy that think like this too.

I do also love to hear about technology that works toward energy and preservation of resources, so don’t be shocked if a solar chimney appears in an upcoming story…

Good Reading

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On Goodreads of course!

I know there are other internet sites for doing this sort of thing, but Goodreads is the one I got hooked up on and the one I think I’m going to stick with (at least for the foreseeable future).
I like this as a way to share the books I’ve read and the books that have really changed things for me. Those are the 5 star books – the ones that really change things for me. It’s tough to get 5 stars from me. I don’t like the fact that I can’t give half stars in their rating system, but I tend to put that in the review portion for each book I add. If I give 4 or 4 and a half stars that’s probably as high a rating as I go without something truly special.
Changing things for me includes books that have a story by me in them! Head on over to Goodreads and check out TV Gods from Fortress Publishing. My story “Leave It To Buddha” is in there! I’m looking forward to reading all the other offerings in the book and I hope you’ll be excited about it too.

Still Working

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So, I’ve been working when I can to get my writing out there. I have a flash fiction piece I really like. I submitted it to a contest and I really thought I had a shot.

As it turns out there were only 750 entrants to the contest – odds were better than I thought.

Didn’t even crack the top 10.

So, I’ll tweak it and send it to somebody else.

In the mean time, if you’d like to be disturbed listen to the second place story here: http://www.ttbook.org/book/3-minute-futures-our-favorites

Lurking and looking bad

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This past weekend Central PA Comicon was happening. I’ve written up a review for Watch The Skies that will be published on the 16th of this month (check it out at the new web site: http://www.watchtheskies.org/ ). I didn’t include a particular issue in that review that I still feel the need to comment on. It’s probably just me, but as this is my web site I guess my opinion is really what counts here.
I saw coverage of the convention in the local news media. One of the articles was here: http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/04/central_pa_comic_con_1.html#incart_m-rpt-1
The coverage seemed, middle of the road. I feel like what they wanted was something more salacious than what they found. I could be wrong, but it’s the feeling I get. Despite the fact this was a “comicon” the headline includes Star Trek and a particular section about the guy that dresses up as a Klingon. I suppose based on the guests of the convention this was a point of interest, but it really rubs me the wrong way that this is the lingering impression people have of conventions. I’ve written about this before from the book angle – or the “I don’t read that stuff” effect.
Speaking of lingering impressions – there are 2 photos that I’m not particularly fond of. The photographer (Paul Chaplin) did a fine job, it’s the juxtaposition that bugs me. One is Bonjo the scary clown sitting and people watching (first image in the gallery). The other is me, sitting and people watching – but the costume aspect is opposite (last image in the gallery). I was in street clothes and the cosplayers were Joker and Harley. Like I said before, it’s probably just me but I hate looking like that guy lurking around the con and staring at female cosplayers and making them uncomfortable. I don’t ever want to be that guy, or make any cosplayer feel uncomfortable about what they’re clearly passionate about. I love what it takes to be willing to cosplay – even if I can’t pull it off and the image bugs me.
Like I said – it’s probably just me. It’s likely nobody will notice or care… but I noticed. What does anyone think, am I just over sensitive about this?

Red pill or blue pill

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I don’t remember what pill made things back the way they were – clearly I need to go back and watch the Matrix again.

As is often the case, the real world has crashed into fantasy land and things here at the Pretend Blog got tossed by an airbag or something.

For those that are with me here, but not with me on other social media allow me to draw back the veil… my wife has landed herself in the hospital. So far it’s been 5 days – and doesn’t look like she’ll be home before next weekend at the earliest.

I’m hoping that will get her all healed up and back to a place where she can start to get healthy again. Until then, things here may be more sporadic than usual.

Time Delay

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It’s a challenge to keep things up to date here at the site lately. The new video card for the computer arrived today. The last piece to finish fixing / updating the computer. Soon we should have additional RAM, new video and TWO new wide screens up and running. Being able to actually work on the home computer again as opposed to being limited to the work system should help things considerably!

As far as the actual work – still getting the rejections piling up. Just got another one, this time from Wicked Words Quarterly. One of these days something is going to stick.

More Soon.

Scan It!

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I read this link about the “hidden” treasure room for the Army. The Indiana Jones aspect appealed to me or I might not have dug into this one (puns away!). There are so many items listed nobody would ever be able to see them all. I believe the museum is worthy of pursuit, but I wonder if somebody there should attempt to jump on the Smithsonian’s band wagon.

The Smithsonian can only ever display around 1% of all the treasures they have – and I think that’s sad. Something they have started doing is using a laser scanner to create 3D images they can then upload to the web so interested folks can look at / study them. The part I think is MOST cool about this is that you can down load many of the scanned models and run them through a 3D printer wherever you happen to be, creating a real version you can hold in your hand. There is something to be said for the power of holding something in your hand. Check out the things they have here: http://3d.si.edu/

Getting information out there for study is awesome. I hope the Army works something out along these lines. It seems a shame that nobody can see those things.

Oscar Who?

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As I sit here typing this there’s an award show going on. I didn’t realize this until somebody else mentioned via social media that they were watching. I was never so wrapped up in the cult of fame that I felt the need to track these awards or anything that went along with them. Yes, I’ve watched them from time to time in the past. Yes, some of the movies nominated for this award were fantastic films. Some of the winners of various awards should have handed them back in shame rather than accept when the more deserving entrant was sitting there clapping politely.

Sports on the other hand, sports I always paid attention to. I hadn’t missed a Stuper Bowl in decades. Despite not really caring for baseball I would keep one eye on the Sox just to see if they were going to beat the Yankees this year or not (Yankees suck!). Same with the Celtics and Bruins. Other sports were bonus material. I’d pick up notes about tennis, racing, big names in golf, anything really.

Then we cut the cable in our house.

It’s been over 2 years now since we shut it off. I almost feel like I should be going to some kind of meeting. Television is an addiction. I didn’t realize it until lately. I was depending on the box in the corner to provide something to me and walking away was difficult at first. Even now I feel the pull. I’m drawn to settle into the passive state of watching the colors flash by, listening to the magic of sound effects. There’s no significant difference in the product over the past 2 years. I suspect many would agree that the product has actually declined in quality while becoming more abundant.

I missed the stupor bowl this year. Most say I didn’t miss much – the game was terrible and the commercials weren’t as tantalizing as years past. I felt like I was outside looking in on something. I was near the party, I was invited, but I didn’t have a way to get there. *Everyone* was talking about it. In the end, I’m not sure I really missed much. I heard the chatter, caught up with the best commercials after the fact and watched the highlights from the game during an on-line sports report. I acquired the same information if not the “enjoyment” factor… but then we had dinner guests that night and I found the company of friends much more warming and fun than sitting and staring at the flickering colors of a flat channel that doesn’t care about me more than how many dollars they can squeeze out of my pocket.

Television is gone. I might slip back now and again to broadcast channels, but I don’t see cable coming back… ever.