James Pyles's Blog, page 136
July 26, 2018
The Gathering Stone
Malcolm Potter was desperate enough to finally make the pilgrimage. He once thought it was all silly nonsense, but things had gone too far. The monster in the White House had made an incredible mess over the past two years, rolling back environmental protections so that his rich buddies could clear cut and strip mine, […]
WALL-E and EVE: A New Look
With all of the angst going on in the news and social media as well as here in the blogosphere, I thought we should start off the day with a smile. So here you go.
July 25, 2018
Is There Value Left in WorldCon and the Hugo Awards?
I’ve continued to consider the problems I’ve read about recently regarding the upcoming WorldCon 2018, which I wrote about yesterday. Since I’m not published in SF/F (although I am as far as textbooks and self-study guides go), I suppose it shouldn’t be particularly relevant. To the best of my understanding, the Cons (and it has […]
Chasing the Frontier
Kara Cooper sat on the sand watching the afternoon sun. She came to California to say good-bye. Divorced, no children, parents dead, she had nothing to keep here anymore. Her brother’s family wanted nothing to do with her, her sexual orientation, gender identity, and politics. She’s spent most of her life hopping around from place […]
Breaking the News
I took Mom and Dad to their favorite restaurant at the end of the pier. We ordered what we always order, creatures of habit and all that, and I admitted to myself I was going to miss it. “I don’t know how to say this, but we’re moving away.” “Moving? Tom, did you get another […]
July 24, 2018
An Outsider’s Point of View: Why Did WorldCon 76 Implode?
In following the Superversive SF blog, today, I came across two related articles: Declan Finn’s WorldCon Melts Down and Richard Paolinelli’s My Thoughts on WorldCon 76…. Paolinelli’s wasn’t particularly illuminating, but he promised a more detailed account later today. Finn described a situation where the Con violated its own rules by “misgendering” one of the […]
The Lady in Black
The lady in black, as the tabloids dubbed her, had drowned in Victor Fountain’s swimming pool five years ago and now she was back. Marcela Saenz was twenty-eight when she died. Mr. Fountain, CEO and President of one of the top software engineering companies in the world, was on holiday with his family at the […]
The Tic Tac Toe Clue
Private Investigator Margurite Carter and her client, shipping tycoon Jeremiah Burton, were inside one of his waterfront warehouses sometime past midnight. “You’re sure my partner is using this place to hide opium smuggled in from the Far East?” “Yeah, but we still have to find proof before going to the cops.” “Where do you suggest […]
July 23, 2018
The Tale of Ellie Westcott
Ellie was working on her third glass of Cactus Wine when the stranger walked into Billy Bob’s Saloon. His six-shooter and holster hung low on his left hip as he swaggered up to the bar, but his spurs had lost their jingle. Through the haze in her brain, she figured he was the sort of outlaw […]
July 22, 2018
The First Woman President of the United States
“You see, Hillary? It worked this time.” “It should have worked last time, George. Then, I’d have been re-elected by now and have had a second term in the White House.” “Don’t complain so. Your health is none too good as it is. The strain of the Presidency would have probably earned you a stroke or […]
