Lance Erlick's Blog, page 21
September 28, 2013
September 25, 2013
Where Have All The Young Men Gone?
(by Lance Erlick)
At a time when jobs that utilize men’s physical prowess are in decline and knowledge jobs are increasingly important, where are the young men?
Almost 60% of all college degrees now go to women, a tribute to their striving to improve themselves in a knowledge-based economy. There are currently 2.7 million more women in college than men. Women graduate from high school at higher rates and go on to college to prepare and improve themselves for knowledge jobs in our new society. They even read more than men.
So, where are the men? An estimated 750,000 are involved in gangs, compared to 30,000 women. Fully 6.3 million more men than women are under correctional supervision. That includes those in jail or prison, on parole, or on probation. Countless others have given up.
Now, what type of society will we have when so many males become discouraged and check out or get involved in gangs, drugs and violence as opposed to seeing the value of engaging with the rest of our society?
Tagged: changing world, future, lost boys, men obsolete, obsolete men
September 19, 2013
Nature of Emergency
(by Lance Erlick)
They come without warning.
Wendy wakes. By grayish light from her bedroom window, she sees she’s surrounded by ants. Their sting is beyond annoying. They cover her arms and legs, over and under her sheets, on the walls, and even the ceiling. She brushes ants from her arms and her face, but they keep coming. She looks longingly at her bedroom door. It, too, is covered. She realizes the grayness is from trails of ants crossing her window, blocking the new day. Carefully, she reaches for her trusty landline and dials 911. She waits seven rings.
A soft, sugary Voice answers: What is the nature of your Emergency?
Wendy: I’m surrounded by ants. They’re stinging me all over.
Voice: I need your name, ma’am.
Wendy: Can’t you just send someone over. Please, hurry.
Voice: Your name, ma’am.
Wendy: Wendy Williams. Now hurry.
Voice: I need your social security number, ma’am.
Wendy: You don’t need a social security number to send help. Now hurry.
Voice: Getting upset won’t bring help, ma’am. Your social security number, please.
Wendy: Why do you need a social security number to send help?
Voice: The volume of calls, ma’am. We need to verify that you are who you say you are. This will only take a minute.
Wendy: I don’t think I have that long.
Voice: Then please provide your social security number.
Wendy: I want to speak with your supervisor.
There is a click and a tinny voice answers: Your name, ma’am.
Wendy: I already gave that. Wendy Williams.
Voice 2: Your social security number, ma’am.
Feeling desperate, Wendy gives it. Now can you send someone?
Voice: Please verify your address, ma’am.
Wendy: Don’t you have that from the phone records?
Voice: Ma’am, do you want help?
Wendy provides the address. Now how will you send help? They’re swarming me and outside my window.
Voice: We’ll move as quickly as we can, ma’am.
Wendy: Please hurry.
The phone goes dead. Ants continue to bite as Wendy tries to find a safe haven. She tip-toes across her bedroom, opens the door and finds ants covering every surface in the hallway.
# # #
The call center is quiet. Three operators on the floor covered with ants have stopped thrashing. A phone buzzes. After seven rings, a sweet Voice answers: What is the nature of your Emergency?
The caller sounds desperate: Please hurry.
Lights from the automated system blink on autopilot.
Tagged: dystopia, sci fi
September 12, 2013
Frederik Pohl 2
My apologies to readers of my post on Frederik Pohl. I in no way intended to take anything away from C. M. Kornbluth who co-wrote The Space Merchants with Frederik Pohl.
Tagged: sci fi
September 11, 2013
Frederik Pohl
September 10, 2013
Frederik Pohl
I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Frederik Pohl, one of the great American writers of science fiction. He grew up in the field along with other almost legendary figures like Isaac Asimov, probably one of the most prolific of the 20th century science fiction writers. Mr. Pohl gave us classics like Gateway, which won both the Hugo and Nebula awards, and The Space Merchants. He was also there for the first World Science Fiction Convention 74 years ago with such notables as Isaac Asimov, John W. Campbell, and Ray Bradbury. He was also a fellow Chicagoan. Mr. Pohl will be sorely missed.
Tagged: sci fi
World Science Fiction Convention
Another great cast of panelists included David Brin, Ben Bova, Connie Willis, Greg Benford, Harry Turtledove, Joe Haldeman, John Scalzi (who won the Hugo this year), Kim Stanley Robinson, and many more. Newer faces included Paolo Bacigalupi and the epub sensation, Hugh Howey. It was a fun packed 4 days. While it was 100 degrees outside, inside the heat came from the fun, ideas, and discussions.
I also enjoyed catching up with members I met at last year’s convention in Chicago. Well worth the time and travel to get there.
September 5, 2013
World Science Fiction Convention
(by Lance Erlick)
Just returned from Lonestarcon3 in San Antonio. This is our second.
Another great cast of panelists included David Brin, Ben Bova, Connie Willis, Greg Benford, Harry Turtledove, Joe Haldeman, John Scalzi (who won the Hugo this year), Kim Stanley Robinson, and many more. Newer faces included Paolo Bacigalupi and the epub sensation, Hugh Howey. It was a fun packed 4 days. While it was 100 degrees outside, inside the heat came from the fun, ideas, and discussions.
I also enjoyed catching up with members I met at last year’s convention in Chicago. Well worth the time and travel to get there.
Tagged: changing world, future, sci fi
August 27, 2013
Blog Tour (1 day)
http://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.ca/
http://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com
Come visit at above locations. There is supposed to be a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD on those two locations. Let me know what you think.
Character Interview Annabelle
(by Lance Erlick)
Q: Annabelle, now that you’ve survived this ordeal, where would you most like to go for a vacation getaway, anywhere in the world?
A: Is that on or off the record?
Q: Okay, off the record. No strings attached.
A: If you could grant me any wish of a place to go with no consequences, I would choose a prison.
Q: After what you’ve been through, why in the world would you choose that?
A: That’s where they sent my birth mother when I was three. I can’t give you a specific prison or city, because they won’t tell me where they sent her.
Q: I’m afraid I can’t grant that.
A: I didn’t think so. Well, then I’ve never been to the Great Smoky Mountains even though they’re only 25 miles away. They’re in the forbidden Outlands. I know it carries a lot of personal risk, but I would really like to experience the untamed beauty of the lands.
Q: So you would put yourself in harm’s way to experience what is essentially a national park?
A: It’s much more than that. It represents all that’s forbidden in my society: boys, the ability to go places without being watched, and to experience things that are forbidden.
Q: They’re forbidden for your own good.
A: Shouldn’t I be able to decide for myself.
Q: So, with the opportunity to go anywhere in the world, you would only venture some 25 miles east into the woods.
A: Right now, I can’t think of any place I’d rather be than home in Knoxville with my family surrounded by beautiful hills and the river.
Footnote: Few may know that Knoxville was caught in middle of the first American Civil War. The city supported the South, while the surrounding areas supported the North. It makes the perfect backdrop for a Second Civil War.
Tagged: dystopia, sci fi, thriller, young adult
