Passing the Torch: Harlan Ellison is now On the Far Side

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On a day that science fiction master Harlan Ellison passed to the far side, it struck me that it seems appropriate to look back at Mr Ellison’s marvelous career, and forward, to some speculative fiction writers of the future . . . On the Far Side.

Harlan Ellison, 1934-2018

The number one thing that always struck me about Ellison’s work was his titles. Here are a few examples:

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
Crazy as a Soup Sandwich
From A to Z, in the Chocolate Alphabet
“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman
The Prowler in the City at the Edge of the World

How I wish I could dream up titles like these!

On the Far Side

The Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal chapter of RWA runs an annual contest called On the Far Side. A number of years ago, after being traditionally published in both Contemporary Romance and Science Fiction, I wanted to blend my two interests and write Science Fiction Romance. I entered my first SFR effort, a near-future romance with the pseudo-Ellisonesque title of Alien Contest for Idiots.

I’m proud to say that the book was an On the Far Side finalist and is now book one in my 5-book Alien Contact for Idiots series.

The contest is special to me, so here are this year’s finalists:

Dark Paranormal

The Contract, by Eliza Fyre
Kingmakers by Margi Guilfoyle
In Blood and Ice* by Susan Person

Light Paranormal

The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth
Images by Patricia Dane
Warrior of Eden by Fenley Grant

Science Fiction/Futuristic

The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth
Touch 3.3 by Valen A. Cox
Kilroy Was Here by Janet Raye Stevens

Fantasy

The Dark Queen’s Daughter by Alexia Chantel
Valista by Lynn Harris
One If By Magic by Ann Campbell Reed

Urban Fantasy

Donovan Darling by Luna Joya
Dead Sure by K.A. Lannon
One Body, Two Deep by Toni J. Stephens

Erotic

Star Knight Errant by Shelley Blakeley
Severed Ties by T.J. Kyle
The Kes Effect by Lori Ono

Young Adult

The Golden Horn by Megan Bates
Weapon of Fire and Ash by B.M. Matsen
Saving Magic by Roh Morgan

New Adult

Field and Thorne by Amanda Marin
Saving Magic by Roh Morgan
A Bargain of Fear and Desire by Megan Van Dyke

Congratulations to all the finalists!