Monthly Archives: August 2016

From WorldCon: SFF As Protest Literature

One of my favorite panels at MidAmeriCon II (WorldCon) was “SF as Protest Literature.” It had a great set of panelists: Jo Walton, who wrote Among Others and the SMALL CHANGE series in alternate-history Britain, where Hitler triumphs and England … Continue reading

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Kansas City, Mo

Nearly half a million people live in Kansas City, Missouri. The city hugs a curve of the Missouri River, and it’s close to the Kansas border, which makes things confusing for a tourist like me. Riding in a shuttle from … Continue reading

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WorldCon: The Dave Truesdale Thing

On Friday, August 19, the MidAmeriCon II staff expelled Dave Truesdale from WorldCon for violating the Con’s Code of Conduct. Truesdale is the editor of Tangent Online, and his publication was nominated for a Hugo in the best Fanzine category … Continue reading

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Goin’ to Kansas City

Wednesday morning: I wave to this woman. She says, “How ya doing?” “Great!” I say. “You here visiting?” I say, “What gave it away; my camera or the big goofy grin?” “A little of both,”she says. This is my hotel. … Continue reading

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Airport Dreams

I get up to the TSA security guy and hold out my boarding pass. He’s African American, probably in his late forties, dignified, deadpan and a little blase. He studies my pass. “You are in the wrong line,” he says. … Continue reading

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MCWC 2016

Usually I blog almost immediately about the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference, and sometimes I break down the posts by day. I didn’t do that this year. For one thing, I attended two of the afternoon sessions this year, something I … Continue reading

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Room

(This is original fiction. If you use it, give me credit.  The artwork is (c) Edward Hopper, Room in New York, 1932. If you use it, give him credit.) In the “Brevity” workshop we did some flash fiction writing exercises … Continue reading

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On the Road

Preparing for a trip in the Old Days went something like this: –Throw some clothes (usually too many) in a bag. –Throw some books (usually too many) in another bag. –Stop by the bank for cash. –Be sure I have … Continue reading

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Vallejo as Location

I have set “The Project” in the city of Vallejo, Ca. I don’t remember ever reading an urban fantasy set in Vallejo. Vallejo occupies an odd bit of geography in northern coastal California, and stakes out an uncomfortable place in … Continue reading

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