John C. Wright's Blog, page 34
February 5, 2015
Breitbart on Sad Puppies
Some much needed publicity.
Few walks of life are today immune to the spectre of political intolerance. At universities, speaker disinvitations and censorship campaigns are at an all-time high. In technology, there are purges of chief executives with the wrong political views and executives who make the wrong sort of joke. In the world of video games, petitions are launched against “offensive” titles, and progressive journalists wage smear campaigns against conservative developers.It may not, therefore, surprise you to learn that similar occurrences are taking place in the science-fiction and fantasy (SFF) community, too. Previously a world renowned for the breadth of its perspectives, SFF increasingly bears the familiar hallmarks of an ideological battleground.
The story begins, as ever, with a small group of social justice-minded community elites who sought to establish themselves as the arbiters of social mores. This group would decide who deserved a presence in SFF and who deserved to be ostracised.
Their victims are littered across the SFF community. In 2013, the Bulletin of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) were targeted by a shirtstorm-like cyber-mob of digital puritans after one of their cover editions was deemed to be “too sexual.” The controversy did not die down until two of its most respected writers, Mike Resnick and Barry Malzburg, were dismissed from the publication. This occurred despite a vigorous counter-campaign by liberal members of the sci-fi community, including twelve Nebula award winners and three former presidents of the SFWA.
Unfortunately, the current crop of elite figures in the SFF community have become either apologists or out-and-out cheerleaders for intolerance and censorship. Redshirts author John Scalzi, a close friend of anti-anonymity crusader Wil Wheaton – was head of the SFWA at the time of the controversy and quickly caved in to activist pressure. This was unsurprising, given that he shared many of their identitarian views.
But Scalzi is, if anything, merely the moderate ally of a far more radical group of community elites. He hasn’t gone nearly as far as former SFWA Vice President Mary Kowal, who handles political disagreement by telling her opponents to “shut the fuck up” and quit the SFWA. Or former Hugo nominee Nora Jemisin, who says that political tolerance “disturbs” her. Or, indeed, the prolific fantasy author Jim C. Hines, who believes that people who satirize religion and political ideologies (a very particular religion, and a very particular ideology, of course) should be thrown out of mainstream SFF magazines.
Read the whole thing.
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
Brian Niemeier on the brilliantly superversive L. Jagi Lamplighter
Brian Niemeier pens the following essay on the growth and construction of a manuscript over at the Superversive blog.
http://superversivesf.com/2015/02/05/the-life-cycle-of-a-manuscript/
The Life Cycle of a Manuscript
On a recent episode of Geek Gab, a listener asked me an excellent question: when is a manuscript ready for an editor? That questions got me thinking about my own writing and editing process, because to my knowledge no two writers follow exactly the same steps.Honestly, my approach to preparing works for submission has varied depending on the length, market, and even genre of the piece; and my system continues to evolve as I learn more from experience and research. (NB: I highly recommend On Writing by Stephen King, especially for newcomers to the craft.)
On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the CraftNevertheless, I thought I’d give a rundown of my current favored method for writing and revising manuscripts. Who knows? Someone may find it useful.
Outline: most fiction authors create outlines of their novels before the writing actually starts. There’s no set format or length for outlines; they can range in size from scene-by-scene summaries of the book to one or two page sketches. Some authors (like King) don’t outline at all. Trial and error have shown me that I am not one of them. My novel outlines generally run 5-10 pages; for short stories it’s usually 1 or 2–enough to set the bounds of the story and chart the narrative structure.
By way of explanation, I tend to structure each of my novels as a succession of multiple three act or seven point narratives within an overarching frame. So I make sure to note every hook, complication, climax, and resolution in the outline.
First Draft: when I start writing, I more or less follow the outline, filling in the blanks while giving myself enough flexibility to draw outside the lines if it serves the story. I estimate that I stick to the outline about 60 percent of the time, and about 40 percent is improvised.
Only I ever see my first draft. It’s not for anyone else.
[…]
Editing: so far, I’ve had one novel-length manuscript professionally edited. I was so impressed with the results, provided by the brilliantly superversive L. Jagi Lamplighter, that I plan on hiring a knowledgeable, experienced freelancer to edit every novel that I intend to publish independently.
Read the whole thing: http://superversivesf.com/2015/02/05/the-life-cycle-of-a-manuscript/
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
February 4, 2015
The International Lord of Hate needs Your Help
A message from Larry Correia:
Need Your Help (gathering links to SJW attacks in sci-fi for a news reporter)
Posted on February 4, 2015 by correia45Hey, Monster Hunter Nation and Sad Puppies Supporters, I’ve been approached by a major media outlet gathering information about our little corner of the culture war.
I mentioned bias, and specifically anti-conservative bias among the voters. They asked if I had links to blog posts, comments, etc.
I don’t keep track of most of what these people say about us. Honestly you can only get called a racist hate monger by so many crazy people before it just becomes background noise. So if you guys don’t mind, would you please post your favorites in the comments below.
James May/Fail Burton specifically, I know you are like the archivist of their racist Twitter posts. Time to bust out the files!
Don’t leave your information here, please. Go over to Monster Hunter International and post your replies there.
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
WHAT IS SCIENCE FICTION? The final, complete and exhaustive definition!
Now that I am a world-famous international science fiction author (my sister lives in Australia, and I forced her to buy one of my books, so that is two nations, at least, where my books have sold) a fan letter has come pouring in. Just the other day, I went to the mailbox and got it.
Like all fan letters, this one raises a fascinating question that reaches to the very heart of the science fiction genre, and asks the expert opinion of John C. Wright, world-famous international science fiction author, about the nature and meaning of Science Fiction.
Let us peruse the contents of this thoughtful, nay, this adoring letter. The hero-worship heaped on me, John C. Wright, world-famous international science fiction author, while deserved, may strike some as being overly fulsome, but it is only to be expected from you, the little people, since I bring a such joy into your meaningless and unimportant yet pathetic lives with my immense talents and towering genius.
I think the fan letter is this first letter here in my mail bag:
Dear Sir, having been in arrears for your offtrack betting debts to Harry’s Happy House of Horse Play, the Family has determined to bypass normal legal action and garnishments, and send a gentleman from our collection department, “Gonad-Crusher” Guido Ugnolini to pay a call on you. Mr. Ugnolini has experience in both American and Sicilian correction facilities, multiple murder raps, and a tattoo. We are confident that you will be forthcoming after receiving his attentions.
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
February 3, 2015
TRANSFINITE The essential Van Vogt
TRANSFINITE, correctly called a collection of the essential Van Vogt stories has been published by NESFA Press, publishing division of the New England Science Fiction Association, Inc. All the science fiction reading world should bow and thank them for this peerless edition. They have selected the Van Vogt stories that were and are essential to understanding the grandest of the Grand Dreamers of SF, and which give the lucky reader unfamiliar with this giant’s work a perfect grasp of how great an impact Van Vogt had on the field, now lamentably unrecognized. Readers! If there is a great idea in SF, and it was not invented by Wells or Verne, Heinlein or Asimov, Bradbury or Clarke, chances are that Van Vogt was the first person to put the thought in print.
I am very well read when it comes to Van Vogt. I think the only things of his I have not read are his nonfiction work on Hypnosis, his true confession stories he wrote in the early days for magazines, and his one chapter contribution to a Howard pastiche. I also recognize short stories I originally read as chapters of his ‘fix-up’ novels. Van Vogt is the only author who can pull off writing a fix-up, a term he invented to describe taking three short stories and adding linking material: and this is because his tales have a dreamlike, half-illogical wildness to them—he was found of paranoia conspiracy type books where the hero turns out to be the villain with amnesia or something—so practically any plot could be linked into practically any other plot without any gain or loss. His characters were interchangeable enough that one could turn into another with no loss. While this does not speak well of his talents as a plot-weaver or character developer, it speaks volumes about the narrative power of his headlong flow of astonishing, phenomenal, glittering ideas.
Here is a mini-review of the tales of wonder appearing in this volume. Since each Van Vogt story consists of little more than Hitchcockian plot-twists, no story can be discussed without giving away at least some surprises. WARNING SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT!
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
Rabid Puppies Sample Ballot
An announcement from my Publisher: the words below are his. I urge everyone to click through the link to my story “The Parliament of Beasts and Birds” which he has made available on his website.
Rabid Puppies 2015
We of the science fiction Right do not march in lockstep or agree on everything. We span a fairly wide variety of political perspectives and we have very different opinions concerning the optimal way to deal with the corruption and ideological rot that is rife within the world of modern science fiction and fantasy. My recommendations for the Hugo Awards last year were not precisely the same as Larry Correia’s in Sad Puppies 2, nor are they identical to Brad Torgersen’s recommendations in Sad Puppies 3. But they are similar because we value excellence in actual science fiction and fantasy, rather than excellence in intersectional equalitarianism, racial and gender inclusion, literary pyrotechnics, or professional rabbitology.
What follows is the list of Hugo recommendations known as Rabid Puppies. They are my recommendations for the 2015 nominations, and I encourage those who value my opinion on matters related to science fiction and fantasy to nominate them precisely as they are. I think it is abundantly evident that these various and meritorious works put not only last year’s nominations, but last year’s winners, to shame.
BEST NOVEL
Monster Hunter Nemesis by Larry Correia, Baen Books
The Chaplain’s War by Brad Torgersen, Baen Books
Skin Game by Jim Butcher, ROC
Lines of Departure, by Marko Kloos, self-published
The Dark Between the Stars by Kevin J. Anderson, Tor Books
BEST NOVELLA
“One Bright Star to Guide Them” by John C. Wright, Castalia House (Spanish)
“Big Boys Don’t Cry” by Tom Kratman, Castalia House (German, Italian)
“The Jenregar and the Light” by Dave Creek, Analog October 2014
“The Plural of Helen of Troy” by John C. Wright, City Beyond Time / Castalia House
“Flow” by Arlan Andrews Sr., Analog November 2014
BEST NOVELETTE
“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” by John C. Wright, The Book of Feasts & Seasons
“The Journeyman: In the Stone House” by Michael F. Flynn, Analog June 2014
“Championship B’tok” by Edward M. Lerner, Analog Sept 2014
“The Triple Sun: A Golden Age Tale”, by Rajnar Vajra, Analog July/Aug 2014
“Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, Earth to Alluvium” by Gray Rinehart, Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show
BEST SHORT STORY
“Turncoat” by Steve Rzasa, Riding the Red Horse
“The Parliament of Beasts and Birds” by John C. Wright, The Book of Feasts & Seasons
“Goodnight Stars” by Annie Bellet, The Apocalypse Triptych
“Tuesdays With Molakesh the Destroyer” by Megan Grey, Fireside Fiction
“Totaled” by Kary English, Galaxy’s Edge
BEST RELATED WORK
Transhuman and Subhuman: Essays on Science Fiction and Awful Truth, by John C. Wright, Castalia House
“The Hot Equations: Thermodynamics and Military SF” by Ken Burnside, Riding the Red Horse / Castalia House
“Wisdom From My Internet” by Michael Z. Williamson, self-published
“The Science is Never Settled” by Tedd Roberts, Baen Free Library
“Letters from Gardner” by Lou Antonelli, Sci Phi Journal #3
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
Rapid Puppies Sample Ballot
An announcement from my Publisher: the words below are his. I urge everyone to click through the link to my story “The Parliament of Beasts and Birds” which he has made available on his website.
Rabid Puppies 2015
We of the science fiction Right do not march in lockstep or agree on everything. We span a fairly wide variety of political perspectives and we have very different opinions concerning the optimal way to deal with the corruption and ideological rot that is rife within the world of modern science fiction and fantasy. My recommendations for the Hugo Awards last year were not precisely the same as Larry Correia’s in Sad Puppies 2, nor are they identical to Brad Torgersen’s recommendations in Sad Puppies 3. But they are similar because we value excellence in actual science fiction and fantasy, rather than excellence in intersectional equalitarianism, racial and gender inclusion, literary pyrotechnics, or professional rabbitology.
What follows is the list of Hugo recommendations known as Rabid Puppies. They are my recommendations for the 2015 nominations, and I encourage those who value my opinion on matters related to science fiction and fantasy to nominate them precisely as they are. I think it is abundantly evident that these various and meritorious works put not only last year’s nominations, but last year’s winners, to shame.
BEST NOVEL
Monster Hunter Nemesis by Larry Correia, Baen Books
The Chaplain’s War by Brad Torgersen, Baen Books
Skin Game by Jim Butcher, ROC
Lines of Departure, by Marko Kloos, self-published
The Dark Between the Stars by Kevin J. Anderson, Tor Books
BEST NOVELLA
“One Bright Star to Guide Them” by John C. Wright, Castalia House (Spanish)
“Big Boys Don’t Cry” by Tom Kratman, Castalia House (German, Italian)
“The Jenregar and the Light” by Dave Creek, Analog October 2014
“The Plural of Helen of Troy” by John C. Wright, City Beyond Time / Castalia House
“Flow” by Arlan Andrews Sr., Analog November 2014
BEST NOVELETTE
“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” by John C. Wright, The Book of Feasts & Seasons
“The Journeyman: In the Stone House” by Michael F. Flynn, Analog June 2014
“Championship B’tok” by Edward M. Lerner, Analog Sept 2014
“The Triple Sun: A Golden Age Tale”, by Rajnar Vajra, Analog July/Aug 2014
“Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, Earth to Alluvium” by Gray Rinehart, Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show
BEST SHORT STORY
“Turncoat” by Steve Rzasa, Riding the Red Horse
“The Parliament of Beasts and Birds” by John C. Wright, The Book of Feasts & Seasons
“Goodnight Stars” by Annie Bellet, The Apocalypse Triptych
“Tuesdays With Molakesh the Destroyer” by Megan Grey, Fireside Fiction
“Totaled” by Kary English, Galaxy’s Edge
BEST RELATED WORK
Transhuman and Subhuman: Essays on Science Fiction and Awful Truth, by John C. Wright, Castalia House
“The Hot Equations: Thermodynamics and Military SF” by Ken Burnside, Riding the Red Horse / Castalia House
“Wisdom From My Internet” by Michael Z. Williamson, self-published
“The Science is Never Settled” by Tedd Roberts, Baen Free Library
“Letters from Gardner” by Lou Antonelli, Sci Phi Journal #3
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
February 2, 2015
Tale of Two Comments
There is a scene in ATLAS SHRUGGED where Dagny is astonished that the crowd cannot tell that John Galt is the hero and that the little men around him are whining rotters merely at a glance, and she is nigh lightheaded with indignation and surprise. How could they not see? Who cannot tell the difference between darkness and light?
I understand her frustration.
Today, on the same day, on the same topic, I came across these two quotes concerning the efforts of disenfranchised and excluded science fiction writers trying to combine into a voting bloc to get our names on the Hugo ballot. We are excluded because and only because, we put story telling above sermon preaching. Leftwing nutjobs (but I repeat myself) indulge instead in sermonizing preaching at the expense of story-telling.
Deep down, it seems the Left do not even like story-telling, because story serve truth and joy; stories praise heroism and serve as examples of love and self-sacrifice.
The Left likes lies. Joyful men are hard to control, hard to convince, hard to break.
The Left regards joy as childish, and despair as the truly sober and mature frame of mind in which one should bow to Tsathoggua the Toad-God of Hyperborea, or Yg-Yralkh the Terrible in the Eighth Dimensional Dominion of the Living Brain Slime, or whatever unholy creature the Leftist actually do worship, such as Mao or Che.
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
Yesss, Preciousss…
Leftists cannot be reasoned with, because Leftism is the embrace of unreason. Case in point: an article from the news, which I reprint in whole. My comments below.
Texas Fourth-Grader Suspended For Telling Classmate He Could Make Him ‘Disappear’ With Magic Ring</p>
By Sean Kelly, Sun, February 01, 2015A 9-year-old boy in Texas was suspended after he told a classmate he could make him “disappear” with a magic ring from the fictional Lord of the Rings films.
Aiden Steward of Kermit, Texas, had just watched a film from the Hobbit series of movies with his family, returned to school excited and imaginative. He playfully made the comment to his classmate while pretending to wield the powers of the magic ring. Aiden was subsequently suspended for making a “terroristic threat” toward the student.
“It sounded unbelievable,” Aiden’s father, Jason Steward, said. Steward said his son assured him that he “didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Kids act out movies that they see,” Steward said. “When I watched Superman as a kid, I went outside and tried to fly.”
The Steward family, who moved to Kermit only six months ago, has already seen a fair amount of trouble with the school district. Aiden was suspended twice before the ring incident — once for referring to a fellow student as “black” and a second time for bringing his favorite book, “The Big Book of Knowledge,” with him to school.“He loves that book. They were studying the solar system and he took it to school. He thought his teacher would be impressed,” Steward said.
The school’s principal, Roxanne Greer, declined to comment on the incident. Greer said that all student-related matters are “confidential.”
Jason Steward reportedly requested something in writing from the school confirming his son’s suspension and explaining why they suspended him. He was later told that they would put a letter in the mail.
“I assure you my son lacks the magical powers necessary to threaten his friend’s existence,” Steward wrote in an email. “If he did, I’m sure he’d bring him right back.”
Power is about the ability to do stupid and arbitrary things. Leftism is lust for power disguised in various unconvincing guises.
Did you really, honestly, truly think that the government wanted government-run, compulsory schools in order to educate them? That Caesar was doing something for your benefit, not his?
Yes, schools do actually educate the student in one thing: it is drilled into the wee little bairn’s head that his lords and his masters are absolute, arbitrary and insane, and that resistance is futile.
When government schooling functions as designed, it breaks their spirit and makes them little cynics, little weaklings, and little cowards.
From time to time exceptional teachers fight the current, and manage to teach your children other lessons, but those teachers are easily rendered mute and impotent by similar tactics.
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
How to Deal with Compliments in a Dignified Fashion
If a writer you admire pays you the highest compliment you can imagine, what is one supposed to do? Vaunt like a pagan? Be humble like a Christian? Giggle like a schoolgirl at a slumber party eating an entire tub of rocky road ice cream with her giggling friends? Raise an eyebrow like Spock and display no emotion?
It matters not. I am gratified to find my opinion carries such weight among my fellow Evil Legionnaires of Evil.
Mr. Larry Correia describes on his blog his desire to retire from the Sad Puppies tempest in a thimble, but that certain evil forces dragged him back in.
Then the ELoE told me tough luck, and that if I dropped out, my fans (who make up the back bone of the growing Sad Puppies contingent) would get mad at me. Plus, John Wright said that MHN was my best book, and his vote for best book of 2014. And you really can’t argue with somebody who writes like John.
Originally published at John C. Wright's Journal. Please leave any comments there.
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