William's Ramblings

Books in the Mail

2008-08-06T13:09:00.007-04:00

One of my favorite surprises is an unexpected book in the mail. This week I was lucky enough to get two such surprises. One was Queen of K'n-yan, by Asamatsu Ken; the other book was Degrees of Fear and Others, by C. J. Henderson.

I must admit, the books were anticipated, just not expected (there is some fun with semantics). I had the pleasure of reading Queen of K'n-yan before it was published. In fact, I've been waiting for it's publication to post a review. For now, let me state that it is a delightful and horrifyingly Lovecraftian novel. After my previous post, I confess that I did endorse the book, as did Brian Lumley, so I'll just quote the words from the back cover:

"Asamatsu Ken's Queen of K'n-yan is a fascinating story, and as Darrell Schweitzer states in his Introduction, it is indeed a fine Cthulhu Mythos novel..." -- Brian Lumley

"Original, dark, graceful and chilling. Asamatsu Ken understands the genre, and delivers a compelling novel." -- William Jones

If you read the "blurb's," then you'll also know that there is a great Introduction by Darrell. If you enjoy Mythos fiction, this is a novel to read.

As for Degrees of Fear and Others, this is a collection of C. J., and story commentaries (short paragraphs before the story). The stories are fun to read without the commentaries. Certainly read the book. It has Lovecraftian tales, and other tales of horror.

The surprise with this book was the cover change. My website has one of the early versions, and as it turns out, it was swapped. I like this cover very much. I had to scan it, as I couldn't find an image online. Well, if I had more time, I'm certain I could have found one.

Both of these books are delights and elegant. Take a peek at them.

What About Blog Reviews?

2008-08-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

I've seen a number of posts along these lines over the last few weeks, so I thought I'd pose a question about the topic - particularly since I just sent my column to Game Trade Magazine about Ken Hite's and Andy Hopp's new book Where the Deep Ones Are.

Many folks as of late have been wondering if blogs are challenging traditional review sources. With the abundance of blogs on the Internet, reviews in newspapers and magazines could become less significant. Or have they already? This includes reviews of films, books, music, and most anything that can be reviewed.

Think of how easy it is to find a review of anything on a blog. Are these reviews competing with the traditional sources? Reviews are abundant on the Internet from many "official" review sites. But it could be argued that the difference between a blog review and a review from traditional source is that the traditional source has a reviewer with credentials of some sort, while the blog is a fan/reader/blogger. Well, that's how the discussion goes: fans reviewing VS established reviewers.

A word that usually creeps into this conversation is "democracy." My only concern with the use of this word in this topic is that "democracy" is a charged word. If I were to call blog reviews the "democracy of reviews," fewer people are going to say "Hey, democracy is bad in reviews." :) I'm not entirely sure that label fits here, so I'm going to avoid it now that I brought it up.

I think the crux of the issue comes down to fans reviewing as opposed to traditional reviewers. Is there more trust in one or the other? Certainly the traditional outlets are feeling the pressure as newspapers and magazines drop review staff.

Hmm, I think I just wrote a review of reviews.

What Do We Do With Our Dreams?

2008-07-30T17:59:00.003-04:00

My apologies for the format of the following text - I'm certain it won't reproduce properly. Rather than following up with my own words, I'm going to use the poet Langston Hughes' words from "A Dream Deferred" (also named "Harlem"):

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Tales Out of Miskatonic University

2008-07-29T15:30:00.004-04:00

Things are going smoothly with the Tales Out of Miskatonic University anthology. So, I thought I'd take the time to remind anyone interested that the Miskatonic University blog contest is still open. You do not have to email me your blog entry, you are welcome to post it on the post link below. Or, you can email it. I'll select at least five winners and include them in the anthology. There is no payment for winning, but the prize is a free copy of the anthology, with your name credited to the blog entry.

For all of the details, follow the like below!

Miskatonic University Blogger Contest

Watching Movies is a Lonely Business

2008-07-27T11:29:00.009-04:00

Movies, or "films," have been around since the late 1800s. In the early days of the Lumiere brothers, films was in its infancy. This famous team of film makers produced hits about "quitting time at work," and train arrivals. The technology was new to the public - and difficult to get to the public. There were no film theaters, so the films can to go to the viewers. Or, folks could visit a Kinetoscopes - a machine that the viewer peered into and watched the film. This was a lonely form of film watching, and usually required standing to look into the viewer.

It didn't take long for the inventive Thomas Edison to find a means of delivering the entertainment. Not only did he improve camera technology (putting those tiny track feeds on the side to keep the film steady), but he also created the Vitascope. The Vitascope projected the film onto a large screen so many people could view at once. This increased profit per showing, and increased the market for films.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the film industry grew (moving from New York City to Hollywood Land). And the theater grew as well. Vast movie palaces were built, with multi-screen theaters, restaurants, entertainment, and quite a few other things (such as roller rinks and child care facilities). All seemed well. By the 1940s, film had peaked with box office sales. In fact, even with the large numbers produced by blockbuster films today, theaters have never seen the level of viewers in a theater since the 1940s. Yes, the price has gone up, and the money earned has increased, but the total number of people visiting the theater has continued to drop.

Some blame television. Why go to the theater when you can stay at home, watch a film and eat a "television dinner" on a tray in front of the 12 inch screen?

Well, to skip ahead, around the 1980s the film industry seemed like it was on a comeback. After countless inventions such as 3-d, sense-o-vision (which included odors, fragrant scents, vibrating chairs, and other oddities that went with the film), people returned to the theaters. The industry flourished. And new movie palaces were built - this time called "multiplexes." I wondered at the time if that was a wise choice. Had the golden age of film viewership returned, or was it simply a wish?

Then something changed again. The VCR gave theaters a run for their money. The theaters won for the most part. But that didn't last, as the DVD came into existence. In the 1990s, theaters started to see declines in attendance. Multiplexes were still being built, and were starting to go out of business. People were renting DVDs and watching them on 27 inch screens, or even larger projection screens.

This time the film industry embraced the change, and lowered the price of DVDs. The joke of a "straight to DVD" release started to lose its meaning as many studios bypassed theaters, cable, and television, taking a straight to DVD path for a larger profit. The DVD industry boomed, and theaters fell behind. Attempting to compete with this market, cable companies start providing On Demand films. Then a decline in DVD sales, renting, and profits occurred.

Now we add in the Internet and home theaters into the fray. Film studios have been looking for a means of cutting out the added material costs of films. Digital sounded like the answer, but digital theaters are costly, and still compete with the vast array of film available directly to consumers. Mailing DVDs is helpful for those in rural areas, and organized people who return them :), but it still didn't pep up the industry. As with Edison's Vitascope, several companies have come to the rescue. Except, rather than producing a technology that allows people to gather together and watch a film, now they can stay at home. TiVo is capable of downloading movies from Amazon.com and other sites, allowing "on demand" watching, without having to drive to the video store, or to wait a day or more for a DVD to be mailed. Apple has also jumped into the arena. Well, they already were with the new generation iPods. However, Apple TV promises consumers much more than the hand-held devices. The list of similar devices are countless. I'm just referencing the two that seem to be dominating the market. And of course, a personal computer can do the very same thing.

I wonder if this will be the "hook" that studios have been looking for. And are viewers happier with it? Sure, there is no large audience to share in the enjoyment, but then "blockbuster" films and classics are readily available (if you have a good Internet connection). In a way, we've come full circle, returning to the Kinetoscopes.

Mysteries to Secrets

2008-07-24T09:44:00.004-04:00

I always enjoy finishing a book. There is no ritual I perform when this happens - maybe because even when a book is finished it isn't finished. There are still potential delays. Proofs to be reviewed, mishaps at the printer, and various other events that can "open" the project again. Even with all of those potential calamities, there is a sense of completion when looking at the final galley. Or even more so when the book is shipped off to the printer.

It so happens that Secrets of Morocco (formerly Mysteries of Morocco) is at the printer. In a previous post I mentioned the difference between the two "editions" of the book. Nothing much has changed since then. The book is still set in Morocco (this is a relief otherwise the title would make no sense), and it has plenty of information about the history of the nation from its early days as a Roman outpost through the 1930s. There is one thing that I didn't elaborate on previously, and that is the inclusion of some Pulp Cthulhu content. This material can be used by Call of Cthulhu players, or by Pulp Cthulhu players. At the very least, the Pulp Cthulhu content should offer a sneak peek into the upcoming Pulp Cthulhu book.

All that is left to do now is wait...

It's in the Air

2008-07-23T19:07:00.008-04:00

Sometimes it is good to relax. I often say this, have it told to me, and I've read about it. And sometimes, I spot people simply having fun. A good example is the group of people laughing and having fun over my house. It appears that they've opted for an archaic mode of transportation. Those of you who have heard hot-air balloons, know that you can often hear the "heater" (is that the correct term?) long before you hear the screams of delight from the travelers. That was the case here. I was busy answering emails when suddenly a "whoosh" sounded from outside. Okay, I admit, I already knew what it was. In my town, quite a few people take air-tours. It was the sound of the balloon approaching.

I wonder how many people have tried this. I live in an area where I can be in a balloon in 15 minutes, but I've never went up in one. Instead, I wait for them to pass over and write blog posts. :) In lieu of taking the time to ride over the trees in a lighter than air creation, I thought I'd make a light post. Basically just having fun and sharing some pictures.

If anyone is in doubt, the folks hanging in the air were having a grand time. Waving to everyone, posing for photos, and even dipping a bit. This is a bit risky near my house as there are a few tall trees in the area. But I suspect in that slight risk is some fun. And it's always nice when fun is in the air.

The Grin of the Dark - Ramsey Campbell

2008-07-10T20:24:00.003-04:00

Ramsey Campbell is a master of horror literature. And fans of Campbell will delight in his latest novel. In his typical style, he creates a dark narrative that draws the reader into the story. While I'm not particularly a fan of "clown horror," Campbell manages to win me over with unsettling, spooky scenes containing these notorious circus performers. But he does much more than this.

The story is centered around Simon Lester and his quest to write a book about the silent film star Tubby Thackeray. The task takes him to a variety of locations, all wonderfully filled with intriguing characters. As the novel progresses, the surreal narrative grows strong - as though there is something from the past awakening. The style works well with novel's subject.

As Lester continues to research Tubby Thackeray, things become more mysterious. There is little material to be found about a silent film star who rivaled Charlie Chaplin in fame. It is as though someone is intentionally trying to erase him from history.

With each passing page the novel grows darker, and yet maintains lighter moments - humorous elements that lift the gloom long enough for the reader to dive in again. At first glance, a novel about a character who is researching a silent film star, perhaps doesn't "sound" like horror. But when handled this well, the mystery and the horror unravel into a brilliant tale.

I would suggest that readers who are new to Ramsey Campbell start with one of his other books. The Grin of the Dark is stylish and well done, but it is perhaps not the starting point for acolytes. In this novel, he works with the prose, making the the writing as much a part of the story as the characters and plot. It is an excellent example of why he is a modern horror master.

Seeding the Universe - or at Least Earth

2008-07-08T18:33:00.000-04:00

I intended to post this some time ago, but I've been too busy. Maybe most everyone has heard about it, but for those who haven't, it is interesting. A couple of months ago, several scientists reported that they found proto-DNA in a meteorite that collided with the Earth back in the 1960s. What this does is lend some support to the panspermia theory - that life on Earth came from someplace other than Earth.

Most scientists are not willing to go as far as stating "life came from outer space," but a few are suggesting that meteorites such as this one might have provided life on Earth with an evolutionary advantage.

The researchers did indeed check the meteorite to see if it was contaminated by material from Earth, and according to their findings, it was not. This rock came with its own proto-DNA. Members of the research time are quoted everywhere, and now here:

Lead author Dr Zita Martins, of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, says that the research may provide another piece of evidence explaining the evolution of early life. She says:

“We believe early life may have adopted nucleobases from meteoritic fragments for use in genetic coding which enabled them to pass on their successful features to subsequent generations.”

Between 3.8 to 4.5 billion years ago large numbers of rocks similar to the Murchison meteorite rained down on Earth at the time when primitive life was forming. The heavy bombardment would have dropped large amounts of meteorite material to the surface on planets like Earth and Mars.

Of course the panspermia theory isn't new either. Speculation that life on Earth might have come from Mars, Europa, Titan, or other remote regions have existed for years. Fans of science fiction are likely thinking this is old news, and in that genre it is. In any case, it is certainly exciting to think about.

Podcast Available

2008-07-08T18:29:00.000-04:00

For those who have not dropped by my website, there is a new link with a month podcast available. The first tale is "The Tiger," and it is in two parts. You can subscribe to it, download it, or listen online. The tale is unabridged. I must put a warning in there. The story has some explicit content.

Here is a link to follow: William's Podcasts

Deep Focus and the Coming Dark Age (Part II)

2008-06-19T06:01:00.001-04:00

This is the point where the topic delves into what might at first seem unrelated - that is commodity culture. However, from the various comments made on the previous post, it seems that we almost naturally connect the lack of deep focus, attention span, and consumerism.

As Voland indicated, there seems to be a link between the Information Age, nifty technology, and the need to own the latest bits of technology. Additionally, it seems that in the era where information is king, it is also at the top of commodities. Yes, we've always paid for our information, but the argument might be made that in the past, we expected much more information when we paid for it. An example of paying for information is education, books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and myriad other sources. But somewhere along the way, information became shallow, and varied quantity became more important. I like to term this as "bullet point data." Basically, the best information today is deemed to be that which can be summarized by bullet point sentences:

Information is good
Conveying the information must be quick
Information comes at a price
The "price" of information should not be our time

I wonder how many literary classics have been summarized in a similar fashion. This is sometimes termed, "Writing to the Top," or pyramid writing - meaning that those in higher positions need less information (the folks at the "top" or at the pinnacle of the pyramid just need short bullet points).

This has also spread across every form of entertainment, and what is traditionally considered "news." While most of you might not consider this entertaining, try reading the novel 1984 while listening to any cable news network. It is surprising how many times the Ministry of Truth sounds like any given news channel. The problem is, in 1984, the Ministry of Truth was just the opposite - it was a ministry of untruths. And this is perhaps necessary today because we have very little time for long news stories. I expect most people have the span of time that it takes to drive to work to listen to news, or maybe that is done during breakfast. Or maybe not done at all, as "news" is always in the background. Snippets seem to be enough.

The argument put forth previously was that all of this is affecting us, causing people to long for surface information. It seems that deep focus, the long term, intense understanding of a topic, is not a part of our culture - particularly a culture where time and money are synonymous. The problem with this is that it leads to fabrication of data, or the filling in of the blanks. And that seems to be just fine. Meanwhile, for this reduced information, we must pay money.

Overall, it seems the Information Age is not only producing vast archives of data, but also quick methods of skimming, reducing, and condensing the data to small bits of easy to remember blurbs. It is probably drastic to predict that in the future we'll speak a reduced language, as vocabularies, sentences, and modes of communication will become brief - IMHO.

Meanwhile, as cited by many writers and philosophers for over 100 years, our culture is becoming more and more consumer based. Producing physical goods is a costly and time consuming task. And all the more so in a world where fuel prices add to the cost of shipping physical material. This leaves us with something torn out of the pages of a cyberpunk novel, where data, something almost ethereal in nature, becomes the world's greatest commodity. Transporting it and producing it is easier with a means of mining the Internet for it (opposed to mining the Earth for it). The costs of manufacture are greatly reduced because it can be digitally reproduced. This makes the Information Age and the Electronic Age a great match. Anything that exists in the "cyber world" can be produced and sold and transported at little cost, while a culture of consumers are programmed to by more and more. To store vast amounts of data on small devices, even though most of that data (music, audio, photos, contacts, games) are seldom accessed. It is a wonderful solution, a product that takes up no real physical space, and has no real physical cost to reproduce. And if the "space" it requires is filled, then another product can be sold to provide greater storage for the data that is seldom used.

It is perhaps unfair to say that we are obsessed with consuming. Instead, I'd say that we are driven by our world to consume - consuming is entertainment. After all, it is better to own DVDs, books, CDs than not to own them, even if we don't have the time to watch, read, or listen to them. In some strange way, all of this seems to be connected to a decreasing attention span, or a lack of deep focus.

Deep Focus and the New Dark Age (Part I)

2008-06-12T10:11:00.004-04:00

Over the past few days, I've had quite a bit of time to focus on living without electricity. It is a wondrous thing we've mastered: energy. And in so many ways we've built our lives around it. So when storms cause power outages, daily life is changed. Lucky for me I have plenty of books, and the entire world was not without electricity (meaning Starbucks is the bright light in the darkness - as they never run out of power).

The events of the storm, and a recent WAMU radio show I heard on my car radio started me thinking about the direction of culture. That's not completely true. I started thinking about it a week earlier (known as "the golden age of electricity"), when I noticed that a television show was "frozen" to allow someone to be overlaid and make a commercial pitch. Yes, the show was in progress; the screen froze, and then a fellow appears with the show in the background, and the commercial begins. Why? Because those folks with DVRs are skipping commercials. The DVR is also responsible for the bottom of the screen always beubg filled with ads and commercial, and now the shows are stopping in the middle to prevent DVR drivers from skipping past the commercials (I love my DVR.

In any case, that's when I started thinking about this topic. Then synchronicity brings about a power failure and a show on a related topic. It's a must I post about it.

So what am I going on about? Two topics really, which is why I have a PART I on this post. One topic is culture and commodities, and the other topic is deep focus - our attention span (I wonder how many people have stopped reading by this point? :> )

Recently, on the Diane Rehm show, the subject of "Distraction and Democracy" was the focus. The guests spoke quite a bit about the decreasing attention span of our culture, while making a few predictions about the future. One guest, Maggie Jackson, has even written a book on the subject: Distraction: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age. I've yet to read it, but from what I've garnered, she compares historical moments, focusing on "ages of darkness," and concludes that our present culture is on a historical precipice for a new dark age (that's surface information in action). That is to say, it seems there are quite a few similarities to the present historical moment and previous historical moments prior to the onset of a dark age.

What I'm going to ramble about is something similar - but maybe I'll hold off on the dark age aspect as I've yet to read her book. Instead, I'll touch upon the fact that we do live in society with a reducing attention span. And our culture is growing around the need to reduce the attention span all the more. Television is always the first suspect when hunting for the cause of reduced attention spans. The Internet is a popular second. As television has been covered quite a bit, I'll stick to the Internet. Seldom are books and dictionaries (printed versions) blamed.

A technological marvel, and the world's thinest layer of information is the Internet. Almost any topic can be found on the Internet, but seldom is more than a "page" or two of information pulled up. The Internet is a great glosser (my word) of data. Want to learn about an event in history? Wikipedia will have a page that sums it up. If not there, then a blog (uh oh). But usually the blog post will be brief (ha-ha), sometimes a two part post, and then a few comments. There is no "deep focus," such as found in a book on the topic. And it's easy! This means we spend less time reading a web-page on Aristotle's book on ethics then we do reading Nicodemian Ethics. This is termed surface information - Cliff's Notes, or Spark's Notes, etc. In fact, in today's culture, who has time to read Nicodemian Ethics, except for those in the academic world? This is how our culture reinforces the need for surface information. What was once a convenience is now becoming a necessity. That is to say, in the Information Age, we have a need for less information.

Of course, there are many causes for our need of surface information. But regardless of the causes, our culture is pushing us into a condition of being vaguely informed rather than deeply informed. All of this begs a question. Are we losing our ability to retain a deep focus on a subject? Many say "yes," and fault television with its quick commercials, sound bites, and news channels with talking head and tickers at the bottom (which is how most television shows look today). Others cite video games and the Internet for the aforementioned reasons, and too overall much variety of entertainment. Perhaps these things are all sources of the problem, but they are no longer independent issues. Each one has mingled with our culture and with our drive-through lifestyles. It seems they can no longer be singled out. It is how we live, and we live a life of distraction. Such a culture pushes for the need of surface knowledge, and reduced time investment in gathering knowledge. It seems ironic that the Information Age can bring about the Uninformed Age.

Naturally, this puts books on the endangered species list because books do require deep focus. Then again, maybe not. Books can be written to be fluffy and fast, and if we don't look beneath the surface of the words (as our culture teaches us to do), then even books becomes collections of surface information.

Hopefully my electricity will be restored by the time this post hits the Internet, and I can find other distractions. :) I'll follow with Part II, and our commodity culture, which is a part of this topic.

Is Indiana Jones too Late?

2008-06-03T16:33:00.004-04:00

I must admit, I've yet to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. For some of you, this may appear shocking. Of course I'm a Indiana Jones fan - can't beat that last name. I love the genre, and I think the first film was quite spectacular, while the others were very entertaining. Nonetheless, I can watch all of them over and again.

What I find interesting about the series of films is that the second was a prequel to the first, and the third was a mandatory quest for the Holy Grail with Indy aging all the way, and the love interests getting younger. Still, some folks like all of them, while others favor only the one or two. Occasionally, I hear the word "campy" tossed about. And so time passes, while fans wait for the rumored (rumored for many years) 4th film. Now that it has arrived, the best reason people are offering me as a cause to see it that it has my last name, and it is in the genre in which I sometimes write. A few people have offered "the music" ias another reason - all rather weak appeals. In fact, the merits of the film are seldom mentioned, and seem to vary more than the previous "questionable" films.

Indiana Jones has become a cultural myth for many people, and that first memory grows over time rather than fades. This makes it all the more difficult for a new film to succeed - it must compete against a long history of fond memories, and the initial excitement. Oh, and Indy is starting to look his age.

I also learned, to my surprise, which it shouldn't have been, that the film occurs in the 1950s - a Cold War era pulp. Not only did this disappoint many people in Russia who feel the former Soviet Union is portrayed unfairly (I won't venture into that area), but it also disappointed many people who wanted Indiana Jones to confront the Nazis a final time. Naturally, I see the reason why the film was moved into the '50s. It would be difficult to explain the protagonist's aging (did I mention the aging again?). But maybe this was always the scheme - to venture into the 1950s, and have a sidekick named Mutt (Mut?) to play off the family dog's name. Having not seen the film, I can't offer much of an opinion there.

All of this leaves me wondering if the film added to the cultural myth, or if it will be ignored in the long run, raising the status of those other two films that many people disliked. Likewise, does this say something about the audience? Has culture and circumstances changed too much for a hero such as Indiana Jones?

Rudolph's Galley Give Away

2008-05-30T07:35:00.001-04:00

The Rudolph Pearson "What's My Line" Contest

Chaosium is running a contest for The Strange Cases of Rudolph Pearson. Follow this link to visit the Chaosium site for more details: Click here.

Enter the contest and maybe you'll win a free Chaosium T-Shirt of your choice, and a signed galley of the The Strange Cases of Rudolph Pearson book.

So what's a galley? In this case it isn't a ship. It is an advance copy of the book, bound but without cover. It is one of the things the author gets to read before the book goes to press, and in this case there are only a few of them still in existence - as the author is tough on the galleys (yes, the plural for this type of "galley" is "galleys").

Huge Biomass Discovered - Shoggoth, Ubbo-Sathla

2008-05-29T08:25:00.007-04:00

This post somewhat references my previous post War of the Worlds, where I ventured into the microscopic world of micro-organisms. In that post, I played H.G. Wells novel War of the Worlds against macro-organisms and micro-organisms. And several very clever readers pointed out that the connection between the topic and content of Wells' novel and microscopic organisms is a specious. That is true, and it was my intention - and it'll be repeated here again. :)

True, there is no "war" between bacteria, fungi, viruses (viri)and humans. But I'm casting in that light because it seems, for the most part, we ignore the things unseen. Think of how many times people come in contact with bacteria, and rather than wash their hands, they simply ignore the unseen germs, maybe rub their palms against their pants, or just go on. For the most part, micro-organisms seem too small to be a real threat. So, I'm trying to cast them in a new paradigm, although they are not thinking or have no intent (unless you're seen the recent remain of the Andromeda Strain - it's War of the Worlds against bacteria).

With my intent out of the way, let me get to the point. Recently a large biomass of bacteria was discovered off the coast of Newfoundland. It is described as "huge," and it was found 1.6 kilometers beneath the sea floor. Adding to the excitement, this huge biomass survives temperatures reaching 100 °C. But before anyone cries "Cthulhu," note that is it an amorphous mass. This makes it a better fit with an escaped shoggoth or Ubbo-Sathla (if you don't know what those things are, just ask).

As reported by the New Scientist:

The discovery marks the deepest living cells ever to be found beneath the sea floor. Bacteria have been found deeper underneath the continents, but there they are rare. In comparison, the rocks beneath the sea appear to be teeming with life.

Here is an exciting image using fluorescent staining to reveal a living cell in green.

It seems this biomass has survived under sea floor sediment for possibly 111 million years. The article explains that at such depths and pressure, cell division is slowed greatly, and some of the single cell bacteria might be over 100 million years old. Of course, samples are being pulled to the surface for further investigation (oh what fun writers can have with that).

Some of the researchers have speculated that this bacteria might even be extra terrestrial. Most everyone knows of the theories about bacteria traveling on comets or meteors, and in some cases hitting the earth, and maybe even spawning life (this theory is sometimes termed Panasperma). And if this were the case, then bacteria have been space travelers long before humanity existed.

Also, Steve pointed out in a comment on the previous "War of the Worlds" post, that humans live in a symbiotic state with a host of bacteria. Many people have a horde of viruses residing in their bodies, causing no harm - either because of immunity, or because the virus is harmless. However, what I'm attempting to foster in our imaginations is that these micro-organisms are struggling to survive, and often the macro-organisms (humans for example) are struggling to survive, and therein rests the conflict. Richard Dawkins wrote a illuminating text titled The Selfish Gene which investigates the innate desire to live in most every organism, which he postulates is probably why so many survive. Without the drive, without the selfish desire to exist, life probably wouldn't exist (and that doesn't mean that bacteria and such actually have desires; rather, Dawkins is referring to something like a genetic program for survival). And yes, he uses "selfish" to shed a different light on something we tend to overlook.

Lastly, a number of scientists propose that there might be more biomasses in the depths of the ocean than there are on the surfaces of the Earth's landmasses. That's quite a bit of selfish micro-organisms sitting around, just waiting to be discovered and exploited by humans and human technology. Sure, it might not be a war; rather, it could simply result in the thoughtless, uncaring genocide of macro-organisms. After all, humans are the only ones who wage war with purpose, and war always requires a purpose - history has taught us that much (read sarcasm there).

Earth Abides without Multi-Colored Paper

2008-05-22T18:54:00.005-04:00

In 1949, the author George R. Stewart wrote Earth Abides, a novel about the death of humanity on the planet. For those who've not read this apocalyptic book, it is worth the time. Although it does give into some of the Modernist style writing of the period, it is, at heart, a genre novel. I mention it because I've always thought the title was clever. With or without life on the planet, the Earth abides.

Of course, there is a plethora of reason why this theme resonates in today's world, most of which I'll not venture upon. Instead, I'll keep to the locus of Earth Abides, and other works of this genre. And what is at the center of these books is the collapse of social structures combined with the return to a "natural" or something that is assumed to be natural state of living. So what in the blue blazes am I writing about here. Let a quote from Earth Abides sum it up:

Now, apparently, he was happier than he had been before, because there was no one to interfere with him and he could merely withdraw and store up around himself all these material goods. He had canned food, sometimes in neat boxes, sometimes in mere piles and heaps of can. But he also had a dozen crates of oranges, more than he could possibly eat before they spoiled He had beans in cellophane bags...

In addition to food he had boxes and boxes of electric light bulbs and radio tubes, a cello (though he could not play), a high pile of one issue of the same magazine, a dozen alarm clocks, and a host of other miscellaneous materials which he had collected, not with any definite idea of use, bu merely for the comfortable feeling of security which came to him from surrounding himself with all kinds of possessions... he was insane.

This really hits at the core of the subject - the world we've created opposing what is "natural." It does this through "owning things," and that many of the things "owned" are human abstractions. But, what I'm aiming at here is somewhat related to the last post. Progress often involves the creation of abstractions that we learn to view as being quite natural. Working 40 hours a week is natural in our society, but there is nothing inherently natural about 40 hours of work. Laboring for money is quite natural to us, but money is an abstraction - an economic system . . . multi-colored paper.

Alas, we arrive at my point. I recently watched a group of senators interviewing folks from the oil industry, asking why the price of oil is so high. As I'm sure most everyone knows, the price of oil has lengthy tentacles, and when the price of crude goes up, the price of many things goes up. That is to say, when more multi-colored paper is required for the oil, more multi-colored paper is required for food. This means people ask for more multi-colored paper from employers, and sometimes even driving to work requires more multi-colored paper than is garnered by the labor. Essentially, multi-colored paper is one of humanity's greatest marvels. We live for it; we die for it; we toil for it; we kill for it. And sometimes, as with a few of the oil executives testifying, we forget how much multi-colored paper we collect from our labor.

And while dreams are inspired by the spiraling shades of paper, and happiness and suffering are brought about by an abundance or a lack of a material of many hues, the world progresses as does human creations - this strange paper being one of the most powerful. Yet, should anything ever occur that halts the existence of humanity, the value, the purpose, the power of mutli-colored paper dies as well. And the Earth abides, and continues on as though money were not natural or even a necessary.

Reading on a Lazy Afternoon

2008-05-20T09:22:00.007-04:00

I was strolling in my backyard this morning, when I remembered something I'd read. So I pulled out my digital camera, snapped a few shots, and came up with this post.

Years ago, I read Carl Sagan's book Cosmos - which was also a popular television series. In one of the chapters, when he was discussing the possible dire fate of humanity, he presented a sentence about "reading a book on a lazy Sunday afternoon." This sentence was a contrast against the potential doom that intelligent life perhaps inevitably encounters. Sagan poses that maybe intelligent species advance to a point where they always destroys themselves - which is one theory as to why Earth has not detected or encountered other inhabitants in the universe.

Of course, that is not the topic on hand, at least directly. In remembering that sentence about reading on lazy afternoons, I was struck by how seldom I have such an opportunity. Every passing year, technology advances, and it seems my schedule has less time for sitting outdoors in the afternoon and reading (that's something I do at night). I know I'm not alone in this. But why I'm returning to the notion is because several decades ago the promises of technology predicted a future with more luxury time - more time for those lazy afternoons. However, each advancement seems to find a new way to keep us in contact or on an electronic leash, and able to do our work from anywhere, providing the batteries last or there is a power outlet. Over all, it is a strange sort of advancement. One that seems ever-consuming, gnawing away at our free time - or did we ever have free time?

Blackmoore Global, Pulp Cthulhu & Voodoo Virus

2008-05-14T08:52:00.009-04:00

Blackmoore Global Laboratories

The last few weeks have seen quite a bit of news releases flying about - distributors updating catalogs, retailers listing products. These are the things that get rumors started. And normally they are the fun type of rumors. In a recent post, Rob, had asked me about an upcoming Chaosium RPG setting titled Blackmoore Global Laboratories. While this project was announced by Chaosium yesterday, it still has a SECLEV 10 clearance (meaning super secret) - sorta). But there is information on the Internet about it. Probably more than most people realize. So I'll probably turn it into a contest. See below for the Blackmoore Global Corporation (BGC) rules.

Pulp Cthulhu

Is it coming out? Will it not come out? I've had many emails quoting the Indiana Jones films regarding Pulp Cthulhu ("You make hurry fast...," etc.). I'm presently doing the art direction, and I'm working with several fantastic artists. It would be nice to see the book at GenCon, and I think every effort will be made to make this happen. The project has changed hands several times. It moved from a d20 system to a BRP system, to the system I developed for Pulp - a Pulp BRP system. Those who have played it at GenCon will certainly know the differences from the Call of Cthulhu system (CoC) and Pulp Cthulhu. Still, all CoC books can work with Pulp Cthulhu - so there is a vast amount of resources out there already.

Voodoo Virus

Here is one that has popped up a few times. This is a "zombie" novel (or survival novel) that I'm writing for Chaosium. In Chaosium's history, they have published several non-cthulhu related books. This is another one of those. It is not under the "Call of Cthulhu" fiction line; rather, it is under a new series line, "Voodoo Virus Chronicles." And Jeff recently made remarks in a post comment about this book as well. The common email I've received on this is: Will there be an RPG setting. Let's hope so. :) But right now, it is a novel.

BGC Contest Rules

There are no rules. So, like the former Frontier Cthulhu, people are free to post what information they can, and any thing they decode. The three people who post or email me the most information about Blackmoore Global Laboratories (or corporation) will win a free copy of the book when it is published. It must be valid information.

This contest will run until July 1st (the book is slated to appear later this year - maybe August). Please share information with each other. Once your name is identified with the data, you will get credit for it - and remember the folks at Blackmoore Global Corporation are watching you as well. :) And that information you provide might help others. Of course, the point is to have fun.

The Somnambulist - Jonathan Barnes

2008-05-13T08:23:00.003-04:00

A milk drinking giant and a stage magician named Edward Moon find themselves investigating murder in historic London. But Moon is more than a prestidigitator - he is the real thing. He uses real magic in his stage act. Even so, as the 1900s arrives, his career as a performer passes away.

By all accounts, this is a urban fantasy (although some would say steampunk). It is set in a gritty historical London. Moon has solved several murders in the past with his uncanny abilities, but when a zealous religious cult threatens the city itself, Edward Moon and his milk-drinking companion (the somnambulist) work to uncover the plans of the cult.

If you're a fan of supernatural detectives, this novel is a good bet. There are a number of clever twists in it, along with an unreliable narrator (not uncommon for such period works). The mood and tone of the prose work wonderfully. The book is filled with unusual characters, with even more unusual names. But it captures the spirit of the genre. And it maintains pacing, which keep the pages turning. Johnathan Barnes produces a nice balance between humor, dark mood, and several eerie moments. This is a fun novel, but it isn't always light hearted. It deals with social issues through an historic lens, and the somnambulist, who is a riddle in himself, is a clever character that acts as a moral guide through a dark world. Yet, the novel does not burden the reader with a n over-determined, historical writing style.

All of the weird elements work together to form a strong narrative, with a surprise narrator. Really, there are too many secrets to be revealed. So try reading the novel before reading too many reviews.

War of the Worlds

2008-05-12T06:38:00.001-04:00

It seems that H.G. Wells was on the mark when he had Earth germs destroy the Martian invaders in his classic novel, War of the Worlds. However, it might be that the part he got wrong was "who" the invaders were.

We live on a planet of many worlds. For the ease of discussion, I'll divide them into two: Macrocosom and Microcosom. The world of humans and animals and plants is large - macro. Our senses readily perceive the large objects around us. But anyone who has seen one of those shows on microscopic insects, bacteria, and viruses, knows there is a world - a universe - all around us, unseen by the unaided eye. There are many more inhabitants of that microcosom than there are in the macrocosom (if we don't include the microscopic lifeforms in the macroscopic world). We're outnumbered by all counts. And it seems that we weren't the first to lay claim to the Earth. By most accounts, macroscopic life developed after microscopic life. That makes us the usurpers, the invaders - although the war isn't over.

H.G. Wells argued that humans had earned their place on Earth through countless deaths (building immunity to germs), where the Martians had not. That statement assumes that the battle between humans and germs has ended. I think we know better than that. If we apply the popular Nietzsche quote to micro-organisms, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger," then the bacteria and viruses are growing stronger. Perhaps a war is brewing.

In Laurie Garrett's book titled, The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance, she makes an argument that the microcosom is growing stronger, readying for another attack (though not consciously doing so). Admittedly, this book was published a number of years ago (1994), but she wasn't speaking in terms of one decade. Rather, she takes account of the entire span of life on the planet, and the endless conflict between macro- and microscopic organisms. One point she does make is that the variations on a micro-organism theme are increasing; new diseases are being found or are evolving out of prior diseases. Certainly popular news plays into this awareness, but with each passing day, more and more antibiotic immune bacteria are created. Think of all the antibiotic soaps and washes. Each use (maybe) kills bacteria, but it also runs the risk of making one stronger - one that reproduces and evolves at a rate far beyond the ability of humans. In evolutionary terms, it seems the microcosom has an advantage. In technology, the macrocomosm has the advantage. But what if the technologies being created are helping the "enemy" to adapt and subvert our immune systems? That's not my keen insight, it belongs to many experts in the field.

I'm not proposing a solution here. Not suggesting drug treatments stop (I'm an avid user of medication :> ); I'm simply speaking about a several billion year war that we've been fighting, and only now are we beginning to understand the enemy. All the while, the enemy (if it is an enemy) has been using DNA and gene splicing mindlessly. What a clever foe.

Super Hereos in Culture: Why We Need Superman

2008-05-06T06:46:00.004-04:00

As most everyone knows, the new Iron Man film has been released. And it seems to be doing well from the reviews I've read and those people who have made mention of it. Honestly, I'm not surprised. I have seen the film, and I must say that the first thing that captured my attention was the Stark corporate logo. Many years ago, I worked for Lockheed Martin (once simply known as Lockheed), and their logo was pretty much one-half of the Stark logo (visit the www.lockheedmartin.com site to compare). That has nothing to do with this post, unless we can make something of it. I bring this up because of a real world connection between Stark Enterprises and defense contractors. Someone is being mirrored.

Regardless of that sidebar, what has captured my fancy for the past few years - maybe nearly a decade - is the resurgence of super hero films. They've certainly appeared on television, but it seems they've done far better at the box office and perhaps DVDs. Why I'm interested is because I wonder about the attraction. Something attracts people to super hero films. I could say nostalgia from comic book days is the cause, but many of the audience members know little of the comic books or even the history of some characters (such as the X-Men or Iron Man). Perhaps there is something appealing in these films, or in their formula, that keeps people returning to the theater - and keeps the studios trying their best to make a pleasing version of The Hulk (why hasn't this one worked yet?).

There are many commonalities in super hero films, but perhaps the most striking one is that super heroes usually work outside the "system" or the law. Quite often, they are mistaken for villains before recognized as heroes (this means they act like villains in some fashion). Or at least F22 fighter pilots attempt to shoot them down believing their are threats before being told otherwise.

It would seem this quality places such films in opposition of what holds society together, making the films a touch rebellious in nature. In fact, sometimes these films must go beyond all institutional means available to society. When the police and military fail, when politics crumble, something must be done: super villains need super heroes to defeat them. Is it an overstatement to say that buried in this concept is a fear or feeling of inadequacy in government (on any level) to protect? Mind you, the return of this genre has spanned at least two presidencies, so I don't think it is purely political.

Other elements of super heroes and their tales are the aspects of being outsiders. They always stand out from the crowd, whether it be Clark Kent with his clever glasses disguise, or Superman with his bright outfit (did anyone notice in the last Superman film, he said that he defended "Truth, justice..." - what happened to the "American way" part of that line - seems like politics did jump in there). Yet, while these grand figures are usually outcasts, lonely, prowling on the edge of society, brooding and misunderstood, they are the only ones who can save the day. They seem to be counter-culture. Most importantly, when they do, the audience cheers. Is this a symptom of everyone wanting to be a super hero, or everyone wanting a super hero - or just a hero?

From outside the entertainment business there is often a confusion about cause and effect. That is to say, it is argued that people watch super hero films because film companies make them. In most business models, manufacturers produce what the market wants. I would think that if people did not attend such films, the number produced would decrease or vanish. This means that argument is inverted: film companies are making films the public wants to see. The question it begs is why does the public want to see them?

Iron Man and Great Expectations

2008-05-01T07:15:00.004-04:00

In publishing, sometimes too much advance notice can be a problem. This is true in fiction and the hobby game industry. What often happens when several months pass between the announcement of a book/product and its arrival is that the potential customers and fans often speculate, in fact re-writing and redesigning that which hasn't been released. Then, when the big day arrives, expectations are never met because too much speculation has surrounded the project, or too much time passed before the release. Imaginations have had time to run wild, everyone's hopes, dreams, desires are placed upon the anticipated book/product, and it isn't possible to live up to the ideal version that has formed in the public mind.

It seems The Onion has taken advantage of this by turning the table on the film Ironman. Rather than speculating about the film, they tackle the shocking news that the trailer is going to be transformed into a full feature film. Of course, this mock news report is funny from both sides of the issue.

Wildly Popular 'Iron Man' Trailer To Be Adapted Into Full-Length Film

Do watch it a second time simply to read the ticker.

Origins Award Nomination

2008-04-30T09:21:00.007-04:00

I'm quite pleased to announce that Frontier Cthulhu: Ancient Horrors in the New World. has been nominated for an Origins Award. Yes, it was in the semi-finals, but now it has made it to the nomination stage.

The anthology is a collection of Lovecraftian tales that move from the east to the west, exploring early North America to the days of the Wild West. Below is a table of contents, and related information:

The Long Road Home by Paul Melniczek
In Waters Black the Lost Ones Sleep by Angeline Hawkes
Where Men Had Seldom Trod by Lee Clark Zumpe
Something to Hold the Door Closed by Lon Prater
Terror from Middle Island by Stephen Mark Rainey & Durant Haire
Children of the Mountain by Stewart Sternberg
They Who Dwell Below by William Jones
Wagon Train for the Star by Scott Lette
Incident at Dagon Wells by Ron Shiflet
Ahiga and the Machine by Robert J. Santa
The Dead Man’s Hand by Jason Andrew
Jedediah Smith and the Undying Chinaman by Charles P. Zaglanis
Snake Oil by Matthew Baugh
Cemetery, Nevada by Tim Curran
The Rider of the Dark by Darrell Schweitzer

William Jones ed., cover art by Steven Gilberts. 272 pages. Trade Paperback.

ISBN 1-56882-219-7

For those interested in reading about how the authors devised their devious stories, click on the colorful words Frontier Cthulhu and read the comments.

Here is a list of the final 5 nominees:

Astounding Hero Tales
Published by Hero Games
Edited by James Lowder

Dragons of the Highlord Skies
Published by Wizards of the Coast
Written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Frontier Cthulhu
Published by Chaosium
Edited by William Jones

The Orc King
Published by Wizards of the Coast
Written by R.A. Salvatore

The Time Curse
Published by Margaret Weis Productions
Written by James M. Ward

Genetics: Brave New People

2008-04-30T06:27:00.000-04:00

Genetic engineering is perhaps older than most people think. A more fitting label might be "selective breeding." But that term was used when we had a limited understanding of genetic engineering, or in fact little understanding about reproduction (the end result was pretty much a guess in most cases). In fact, humanity has practiced this craft on so many plants and animals that many of these creations would be unable to survive without human assistance. I'm betting a few of them are easy to guess, while others (like most dogs) would seem surprising.

By the 1800s, it was thought that the mystery of "gene plasm" was figured out when peas could be grown to show key reproductive features. Of course, this led to numerous theories, and brought into existence the term "eugenics." Improving humanity was the craze back then. Arguments such as "we are careful about breeding our animals, why not be as careful with humans?" Needless to say, such arguments did not have happy endings.

By the 1900s, the U.S., and many other countries had passed eugenics laws, and scientists were still searching for the secret to making the "perfect" human. By 1930s, many countries, including the U.S. and Germany, were sharing information about national eugenics programs at the 3rd International Eugenics Conference.

A war interrupts the science; however, the U.S. keeps its eugenics laws on the books for several decades afterward (another post in itself). Then DNA is unraveled, the human genome is decoded, and now we are on the RNA project. Food, animals, and drugs are engineered - and even a few cloned critters. The U.S. government fearing a passage from Mary Shelly's novel might suddenly appear on the world stage bans human cloning among other forms of experiments.

And now here we rest, on the precipice of a new science that can improve humanity. Those of you familiar with my writing know this is a common theme in my fiction (and non-fiction). What should the world do? Sure the science is young, even if the practice isn't. But without great risk how can we have great success? And really, what harm can come from a genetically engineered tomato? It's not like they'll bunch-up and attack. But when we review the history of all of this, time and time again it ends in a mess. That makes it seem as though the odds of being right this time are slim.

At the moment, there are many "species" of mice that are genetically engineered - and corporations own their genomes (which means unauthorized reproductions are illegal - don't tell the mice). Some mice are transgenic - they possess the DNA of humans or other animals (yes, we can blend DNA from species to species). Add to that genetically engineered plants that are also patented by corporations; they make a profit by selling the seed, but the plants cannot produce seed. These are high yield plants, but require the re-purchase of seeds from the manufacturer (economics is sneaking into the picture).

It is interesting to speculate upon the first human ventures: genetically improved memory; improved vision; no more male pattern balding; (there's another one that goes here - you can guess it); stronger, faster, bodies and immune systems; higher intellects; designer skin and eyes and hair (remember, we can mix DNA of animals, so why not go for the real leopard skin look). Growing replacement organs is a popular subject. That one can get sticky unless it is done through transgenics (human organs grown in a pig, for instance). Really, the list is only limited by the imagination. Oh, and I suppose the cost. It seems that these procedures might be costly. Hmm, that could present a problem.

Dark Fantasy Ponderings

2008-04-30T00:16:00.004-04:00

I enjoy dark fantasy fiction - I have a few tales slated for this year and next year in anthologies from various publishers. And what I mean dark fantasy in the Howard or Smith sense of fiction, but darker in mood, and bit more up to date for modern readers. Also, I enjoy the "weird" elements these authors brought to the fiction.

If you're wondering, this post is not really going anywhere, except it allows me to speculate upon how many people would email me if they to had an interest in a dark fantasy anthology. Such a book would have limited space. And the last thing I need is another project for this year. Still, it is an interesting thought experiment.