James Pyles's Blog, page 4

All the World’s a Game and All the Lords and Captives Merely Players

“Shall we play a game?” Her jailer placed the elements of Charlotte on the table between him and Ciara with notable mistakes. Ciara recognized what Isom had taken from her brother’s style but only a barbarian would have so clumsily arranged the dice on the left of the cards and the board. “You bested my […]

Seven Drabbles Accepted Into “Second Wave”

I’ve just had seven (out of the ten submitted) of my science fiction drabbles accepted into the Starry Eyed Press anthology “Second Wave.” Here’s the short blurb: For Second Wave we are looking for stories centering on the aftermath of initial contact with aliens. Show us what impact first contact had. Give us changing politics, […]

Book Review of the Dresden Files Novel “Small Favor” (2009)

I finished Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files novel Small Favor a week or more ago, but I’ve been so busy (largely with granddaughters) that I haven’t had time to write the review before now. Just when I think everything that can happen to wizard Harry Dresden has happened, something new comes up. As you recall, Dresden […]

And the Sea Shall Claim Her Dead

“We came to take nuclear torpedoes from an old submarine, not hunt for ghosts.” Simon, in the pilot’s seat of the deep-sea submersible, sounded almost panicked rather than his usual assured self. “I can’t help that,” yelled Cora at the hydrophones. The banging I hear from the inside of that sub is an SOS. Someone’s […]

I Don’t Know Art, But I Know What I Like

“What do you think, Dad?” Liz proudly showed off her university senior art project resting in a dorm courtyard. “I’m not sure what to think,” Mike said. “What is it?” “It’s symbolic of the constraints placed on reality and the illusion that if we were released from our cage, that we would be anything more […]

A Look Back at the Beginning of the Series “Andromeda”

I’ve been deciding which classic science fiction television series to start watching for quite a while now. However, it was a chance post on X/twitter that made me choose Andromeda, created from a concept developed by the late Gene (“Star Trek”) Roddenberry and starring Kevin Sorbo. I made my decision when “Andromeda” was described as […]

The Girl in the Macramé Bikini

“This will be fun, Grandpa,” said his youngest granddaughter. At fourteen, she was as full of silliness as when she was four. “I’m seventy-one, not seventeen. What do I care for glow-in-the-dark strip and macramé parties?” the old man groused. “This is worse than Chuck E. Cheese.” “Relax into it,” said his oldest grandson. “It […]

Book Review of “Starhyke: A Dark Future Past” (2025)

I just finished Starhyke: A Dark Future Past (2025) by A.S. Charly, published by Starry Eyed Press and I must say it doesn’t disappoint. The novel is based on the 2009 British television/comedy Starhyke (Starhyke as in “hike”, “Star Trek.” Get it?). I’d never heard of the television show before I became aware of the […]

“Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir” is Available Featuring my Short Story: “Last Wish of a Dead Man”

My hardboiled detective story “Last Wish of a Dead Man” is now available in the Raconteur Press anthology Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir in paperback and Kindle formats. The blurb at Amazon says: In this iteration, Moggie Noir is more than a framework, it’s a mewed. I feel it is safe to say that […]

The Long Winter is Coming

“Daddy, do you think Mommy’s okay?” My six-year-old daughter asked me the question I didn’t want to answer. “I don’t know, sweetheart,” I said. We were watching the news on my phone. “Boise was outside the Yellowstone super volcano’s blast radius…” “So, she’s alright?” “Maybe. But the volcano will get everyone else.” “What?” “You know […]