John C. Wright's Blog, page 210

Meme!

Something I wrote a while back, but (if you will forgive the postmodern self-referential nature of the comment) it bears repeating:

I have said on many occasions that the belief in "memes" is merely a self-replicating bit of information code, passed from mind to mind through speech, and having no reality other than its ability to replicate itself further.

Grammatically, memes only ever exist in the third or second person, not in the first person. Their or Your deeply-held and cherished beliefs...

Poetry Corner: O for that warning voice

With excuses to my Jesuit confessor, Fr. de Casuist, I would like to impose on my vow of restricting my posts to Friday in order to hear a quote from the devil.

Here is the Mount Niphates monologue in Milton’s PARADISE LOST. This is that speech which those in the camp of William Blake, who say that Milton unbeknownst was of the Devil’s party, have trouble to explain. (For those of you who are fans of THE INCREDIBLES, this is the first example of ‘monologing’, a practice many a lesser...

SEHNSUCHT, AUTUMN SUNSETS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COMFORT

This is what I would have posted had I been doing a daily post, but since I have two books or more overdue at the publisher’s, not to mention working a day job, I can only summarize.

So just imagine the following points were explored, dwelt upon, and ranted about for several pages, perhaps illuminated with video clips of Hammer’s SHE or Fogley’s GIRL GENIUS, and seasoned with really long and obscure words (words like ‘nuncupatory’ – a Jack Vancean word, and ‘cyclopean’ – a H.P. Lovecraftian ...

Not in the Best Interests of the Child

I am violating my 'Friday-only' posting rule, because this story is (1) an enormity (2) timely and (3) I am only posting a link. You can read it and decide for yourselves what the mind-set and political philosophy is which leads up to such things, and from what sort of philosophical and political position such things come.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211950/Premature-baby-left-die-doctors-mother-gives-birth-just-days-22-week-care-limit.html#ixzz0QcrzUSS0

Doctors left a premature...

Wright's Writing Corner: The Morality of Story

My beautiful and talented wife has posted another Wright's Writing Corner

http://arhyalon.livejournal.com/82274.html

Naturally, the same instruction as previous posts apply--leave compliments and praise on her website, where she can answer it, and leave criticism and rude barking here, where I can ignore it. Chivalry demands no less, gentlehobbits.

Or better yet, send your hate mail to John Scalzi, because (a) he grades it and (b) he makes me laugh. (NOTE: no John Scalzi were harmed in the...

From POEMS by Edgar Allen Poe

Here is a quote from Edgar Allen Poe that touches on a discussion recently in this space, particularly the relation of taste to intellect and moral sense. I am delighted to see he is of an alike mind with me with his reverence for Truth, and for the cool-hearted approach on must take toward that most virginal of goddesses. I differ from him somewhat in that I see a profound and obscure interconnection between truth and beauty, or, if you like, between the needs of drama and the needs of logic...

Tales of Mystery and Imagination; or, What is the first SF novel?

What is the first Science Fiction novel?

This question was raised in an interesting article by one Jim Harris at Auxiliary Memory (found here http://jameswharris.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/the-time-machine-by-h-g-wells/) where he argues that THE TIME MACHINE by H.G. Wells is the first science fiction novel properly so called.

Let me quote his words, so as not to mislead:

“…I’ve come to the conclusion there are two types of stories labeled science fiction. There’s the all-purpose label that...

Girl Genius Wins! (Or, the power of Big Hats)

I hope I will be forgiven for breaking my “no posting save on Friday” rule for an issue of astounding importance: GIRL GENIUS JUST WON THE HUGO! (And by "just" I mean it happened a month ago, and I only noticed just now.) Congratulations to Kaja and Phil Foglio! (and to the colorist, whose name is Wright. I bask in the reflected glory.)

This award was granted at the World Con in Montreal (which I also attended, thank you, with my lovely and talented wife, L. Jagi Lamplighter, whose book PROSPERO

Wright's Writing Corner: Guest Blogger Danielle Ackley-McPhail

For this week's Wright's Writing Corner, Mrs. Wright introduces guest Danielle Ackley-McPhail to describe writing description.

http://arhyalon.livejournal.com/80664.html

I have consulted with my Jesuit Confessor, Father de Casuist, who tells me that merely posting a link, does not count as "posting" and hence does not violate my "Only Posting on Friday" rule. He also says that rumor that the Pope Joan in the Thirteenth Century ordered Friday to be a day to avoid meat because of the foresight that

Authoritarian? Me...?

The esteemed Mr. Charles Stross has said on his blog that I. John C. Wright, am possessed of an authoritarian personality, and some readers have asked me my reaction to the comment.

My reaction is this:  I dismiss the comment as utterly false, and I HAVE COMMANDED ALL THE WORLD NEVER TO SPEAK OF IT AGAIN ON PAIN OF MINE IRATE DISPLEASURE. And I furthermore assert that I have no idea what he is talking about.