Bryan Thomas Schmidt's Blog, page 64

Five Reasons Science Fiction and Fantasy Are Important To Me

I've had a love affair with science fiction and fantasy since grade school. I will never forget the time my cousins dragged us to this film with the weird name "Star Wars." Even at age 8, I was sure the title sounded dumb, but my cousin and best buddy, David, had seen the film several times already, and "you just have to see it," he said.

The film did not disappoint. From its opening minutes aboard the Rebel Ship, I was on the edge of my seat. That opening scene remains one of my favorites...

Favorite Speculative Fiction

For those curious or just looking for good reads, here are some of my speculative fiction favorites in no particular order:

Robert Silverberg, Majipoor Books (Lord Valentine's Castle is one of my all time favorites but there are 6 more and numerous short stories from this master)

Stephen R. Donaldson, Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (the first three thrilled me in high school. I have yet to read the latest but I have them in my queue)

David Eddings, The Elenium and Tamuli books (3 of each and gre...

Review: Spellwright by Blake Charlton

If you haven't met Nicodemus Weal, you should. He's the kind of character that will touch your heart and change your perspective.

A brilliant debut by a talented writer, Spellwright's story is all the more intriguing because it parallels the author's own struggles with dyslexia. The story of Nicodemus Weal, a dyslexic apprentice wizard who becomes hunted by several factions when it's thought he could be the long awaited Halcyon, who will bring unity and power to defeat the dark forces threate...

Sharks in Publishing

I just got an exciting email this past week: an anthology wanted to publish one of my own favorite short stories. Having not yet made a professional sale in fiction (so far I have had fiction work only appear in ezines) and given that he was paying the professional rate, I was naturally excited. Until he broke the terms out. He wants me to hand over the copyright to DE (his company) and that's for life. He wants to have his editor rework my story to meet his needs with no input from me (...

My Health Care Plan

Since I wear my heart and my opinions on my sleeve, most people probably already know that I am not a fan of Obama or Obama Care. There are many reasons for this, most related to the fact that I believe the Judeo Christian values this country was founded on, and which even the non-religious Founding Fathers respected and endorsed, are being lost. Obama seems to be proponent of things which move us further from that, so I don't like him and I don't like other Liberals with those leanings. I...