John C. Wright's Blog, page 215

But now for something REALLY IMPORTANT

Important to me, that is.

Here's a new review of SONGS OF THE DYING EARTH, from the widely-read fantasy blog The Wertzone:

http://thewertzone.blogspot.com/

Guyal the Curator' by John C. Wright sees Manxolio Quinc, Chief Invigilator of Old Romarth, investigating the arrival of a stranger in the city suffering from amnesia. Their investigation of his origins sees them running afoul of the ill-tempered titan Magnatz. This another successful story, with a startling ending. The only problem with this ta

Steven Crowder On Obamacare

Related to a topic recently discussed in this space. Naturally, those of you who dismiss anything said by a conservative because and only because he is a conservative, have a method for defecting incoming information.

(A friend of mine once used the argument that National Rifle Association could not be trusted to gather information on gun use and abuse statistics, on the grounds that they were the National Rifle Association. When I asked her to cite come error they had publis

Message From George RR Martin

You see, I do know real science fiction authors, so there! Not only has Harlan Elison insulted me once at a Nebula Awards banquet, but I once wrote an email to John Scalzi! Yes, THE John Scalzi! And he answered!

And Charles Stross once called me an idiot! And Emerald City's Cheryl Morgan called me an idiot! And I have had comments in my comments boxes from John Crowley when I misunderstood one of his books and shot my mouth off, and he woulda called me an idiot, excepting he is too classy! So ya

Harry Potter and the Ragpicker's Wagon

(If this piece sounds the same as a similar piece I wrote five years ago regarding PRISONER OF AZKHABAN, that is because my complaint is the same, and there is little need to add to nor subtract from it.)

The most recent Harry Potter movie, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE might be a good movie or might be a poor one. I could not tell, because I could not take my eyes off the horror that was the costuming.

More hideous than the Dementors, some Hollywood hophead made the decision to dress th

Entry books!

A reader asks: "what of your books would be the best entry point into your writing, especially for a reader who enjoys reading your philosophizing here? (You have probably answered this question before, and I, of course, missed it)"

My answer is, first, that no one ever asked me before, and second, of my books, I think you should read the really good ones before the merely good ones. To be specific:

WORLD OF NULL-A by A.E. van Vogt
LAST AND FIRST MEN by Olaf Stapledon
HARVEST OF STARS by Poul An

The Best Samurai Vampire story of the Year!

I made a remark about writing a Samurai Vampire story when I was listing my advice to new writers. Here is the link:

http://arhyalon.livejournal.com/72302.html

Once reader comments about the story title Lightning Swords of the Nosferatu of Kyoto:

"Vampires AND Japanese sword fighting in one story? That simply CANNOT FAIL." Is it true that it cannot fail? How can we mere mortals tell which stories use their mighty powers for good or for awesome?

Fortunately, we have a sure-fire method of detecting

Palincare! Cheneycare! Nixoncare!

A reader comments:

As I was told by a coworker, because Obama has a good heart and is a smart man, he will know how to best re-organize health care and fix it for all of us!

I just don't understand why you can't see the truth of that, Mr. Wright!

(dripping with heavy, heavy sarcasm. Though I was actually told that by a coworker, who honestly believed every word and couldn't for the life of her understand why I would be opposed to letting the government do such a thing)
Ask your coworker whether sh

Call your Senetors, Write your Congressmen

The sovietization of the American health care system, currently the best in the world, soon to be on par with that of Yugoslavia, continues without effective opposition by the Republican Party leadership.

One or two Republicans have spoken out, but there is no strategy, no coordinated effort to stop this monster.

It is not as if the defenders of the bill even have the slightest idea what they are talking about, or what they are voting into place. Your representatives in Congress, dear voters, ha

A Thought Experiment in Rationed Food

dirigibletrance upbraids me when I point out that a health care system run by self-interested politicians invites corruption. Only those who make contributions to the Party will get their liver transplant when Big Brother rather than Marcus Welby decides who gets treatment.

He thunders (or perhaps giggles playfully. On the Internet one never knows):

"Mr Wright, you need to look past the ideologies for a second a realize this: People just want affordable health care."

My dear sir, you need to loo

Ten Rule on How To Be a Writer

You may now read the first ever  Wright's Writing Corner entry, on my wife's website. She interviews, well, me. Starting small, I suppose.

Please visit and leave a kind comment.

Here is the link:

http://arhyalon.livejournal.com/72302.html