Malon Edwards's Blog, page 5

After Papa Died - Expanded Horizons

Can't believe I almost forgot this.




The September issue of Expanded Horizons is now live. Why do I mention that? Well, I'm glad you asked. 




Not only does Issue 37 of Expanded Horizons include speculative work from contributors living in four different countries, it also includes me. 




Wow. That sounds really vain and conceited. 




Let me try that again.




The September issue of Expanded Horizons is now live, and it includes my flash fiction piece, After Papa Died.  




The short short was first published in the Lunewing Black Faery Anthology, put out by Purple Magazine.




Have a read of "After Papa Died" and let me know your thoughts on the Forget-Me-Not Faery.




Image credit: prezzey/Expanded Horizons

Martian Solar Eclipse

Phobos might as well be walkin' on the Sun

Who knew solar eclipses on Mars were such a common event?



Solar eclipses on Mars are so common that one of its moons, Phobos, scoots across the disk of Sun on a near-daily basis. 



Why? Because Phobos is only 3,600 miles away from Mars. In comparison, our Moon is 249,000 miles away from Earth.



Mars rover Curiosity caught Phobos in transit across the Sun on September 13 (pictured to the right). 



A ho-hum sight for all of those caverns and channels on Mars, but not for first-time visitor Curiosity. 



Here's hoping there are many more eclipses for the rover to see. 



Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems

Fading Light Review

Kick ass cover art by Jessy Lucero

I've been a bit busy lately with the 9-5, so I haven't had the chance to collect all of the recent reviews for the Fading Light anthology (edited by Tim Marquitz) into one post. 



But I just have to share this excellent review by  Mihir Wanchoo over at Fantasy Book Critic. I love reviews like this, and not just because my short story is being praised:






Blessed Be the Shadowchildren by Malon Edwards - The story carries on the excellence of its predecessor. It’s a story within a story, with the first thread about Levi, the narrator and his friend Lali trying to find something in a land wherein the sun is dying. The second thread deals with the reason for the sun’s death and the hubris of the god who caused it. A twisted story and very well written by Malon Edwards, this story was another one that took the book theme and played it out to a different tune. 







These kind of reviews truly do anthologies with a large number of stories justice. The reviewers are very careful not to give away spoilers and plot points, but they tease you with just enough information that you can't help but want to read each story. Not every reviewer is adept at doing this, but Mihir does it very well.




Have a read of the review. It is very insightful - for each story and the anthology as a whole. And if you are so inclined, get a copy of the anthology and let me know what you think.

Personal Air and Land Vehicle: Codename GoBot

If Scooter were badass, he would look something like this

No, that's not Photoshopped. It's an actual flying car.



The future is here, people. 



You better get your "drying" license now. I hear they only give them out to fans of the GoBots, though. 



Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. 



You're looking at that picture and having warm, fuzzy thoughts about Scooter right now, aren't you?



And that was way before the theme song from the GoBots started running through your head. 





image courtesy of PAL-V / Spark design & innovation

Love's Gonna Getcha

Just saw this review linked by Jha over at Silver Goggles about the soon-to-be released Japanese steampunk novel, Stormdancer. 



Say it ain't so, You're Killing Me, say it ain't so! 



But Kayla and Cynthia say it is so. And my first Book Lovin' crush, no less. 



The review at You're Killing Me is in-depth and contains spoilers, but with good reason. 



They take the errors, inaccuracies and plain ol' WTFery to task. They set the record straight on Kristoff's use of Japanese culture and language, and excoriate his objectification of women. They break my heart. 



No. Scratch that. Kristoff breaks my heart. Stormdancer breaks my heart.



I was very much looking forward to picking up Stormdancer and reveling in my book love.



I should have just listened to KRS-ONE.



Now tell me what the f*ck am I supposed to do?



Rhetorical question. 



Though, I could write my own. 

Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous

[image error]
Kick-ass cover art by Jessy Lucero





At first, I didn't want to submit a story for the Fading Light anthology.



I had just finished writing the longest piece of fiction I'd ever written, Half Dark, for the Four in the Morning anthology. Work was crazy. I was working long hours, I was mentally spent. I just wanted to curl up into a ball - mentally and physically - and stay that way. Forever. 




Or at least until the premier of the third season of Walking Dead. 




And then I saw Jessy Lucero's cover art for Fading Light. Talk about being inspired. All of my tiredness went away after seeing that cover. 




I mean, just look at it. That is seriously one kick-ass cover. The design, the color scheme, the artwork - the friggin' tentacles coming out of that friggin' sky! - I just had to be in that anthology. 




No exaggeration, that is one of the best covers I have ever seen. Ever. 




Tim Marquitz has put together an excellent anthology, starting with the cover. I can't tell you how pleased I am that I submitted my story, "Blessed Be the Shadowchildren", to Fading Light.




I think you'll be pleased with it as well. Check it out and let me know what you think. 

Now Approaching Bradbury Landing

Curiosity finally gettin' its roll on

out
of NASA about Mars rover Curiosity—and it has nothing to do with StarHawk Guy. 



On Wednesday, NASA named the clearing where Curiosity touched down on Mars after Ray Bradbury. 



A very fitting tribute, if I must say so myself. 



Chronicle on, Curiosity. 



Chronicle on. 



Image by NASA / Reuters

Book Lovin': Bow Chicka Wow Wow

Now, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout

Let me explain what book lovin' is.




I see a cover, I read the blurb and I have an immediate and intense desire to buy that book. 



Why? Because I'm certain I will love it.



So, yeah...I think I just found my next book love.





You had me at chainsaw katanas.




Release date September 18, 2012.




But don't tell wifey. 



She just may want to get in on the action, and her book lovin' is much more intense than mine.



Last thing I need is my books loving her more than me. 

Fading Light: an Anthology of the Monstrous

[image error]
Cover art by Jessy Lucero



This year has definitely been the year of the anthology for me. 



So far, I've had short stories published in four anthologies, with another one, Fading Light, set to be released September 1. 



Here's the description for Fading Light:





Born of darkness, the creatures of myth, legend, and nightmare have long called the shadows home. Now, with the cruel touch of the sun fading into memory, they've returned to claim their rightful place amidst humanity; as its masters.

Fading Light collects 30 monstrous stories by authors new and experienced, in the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, each bringing their own interpretation of what lurks in the dark.




And here's the blurb for my story, "Blessed Be the ShadowChildren":



The Sun is dying, mortally wounded by an asshole god and his jealousy. There's hope (and love) in the slow, dark death to come, though. But only if fifteen-year-old Levi and Lali can reach the warm arms of the Bright Lady before the horde of pursuing Biloko devour them - intestines first.



I seem to be saying this a lot lately, but this story is not like anything I've written before. And that's a good thing. 



What's a bit tripped out is I almost didn't submit to this anthology. But more about that later.



In the meantime, keep this one in your digital to-read-some-extremely-messed-up-stuff-later pile. 



I think you'll like it.