Bernard > Recent Status Updates

“Dog Star” by Arthur C. Clarke (1962). Short. Sweet. Dogs are humans’ best friends, even humans living on the moon.

“Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell — what a treat to stumble across the story that The Thing (the movie) is based upon without knowing ahead of time that was the case! The movie is much better. The story is mostly talking and actually white boring. 😆

Gygax really had a lot of free time, didn’t he?

I’m starting over… again. Third time’s the charm! I mean it this time!

More bot, and still no murder.

“Daybroke” by Robert Bloch (1958) is a post-nuclear war survival story. Who wins in a nuclear war? The last line reveals the answer.

“It’s Great to Be Back!” (1946). I definitely should have seen that ending from a mile away!

Satisfying first story!

“The Last Question” by Isaac Asimov, and “How Beautiful with Banners” by James Blish, are two very different stories. One spans nearly an infinity of time and obsessed with the question, “can entropy be reversed?“ The other lasts but a minute or less and ponders the question, “did my virus bubble spacesuit just have an affair with a native Titanian?” What the…?

Unexpected ally! So good!

The last several installments have been essays and interviews about the genre. I don’t feel like reviewing them individually. Instead I have come with an idea for a story so I’m going to go write it while it is fresh!

The T-1000’s voice as Wolverine continues to crack me up!

Ah, Kender and gnomes. Classic Dragonlance!

“The Grief-Note of Vultues” by Bryn Hammond is a well-structured and fast-paced tale, but what the heck: gross giant vulture-human amalgams?! Great artwork by Gilead artist made it even more creepy.

“The Vapours of Zinai,” by J.M. Clarke features eldritch magic, demons, temples, slayers and lovers. A well defined plot and nice action drive this story to a satisfying but perhaps too soon end.

“The Beast of the Shadow Gum Trees,” by T.K. Rex, is a bit confusing. Creation, immortals, lovers and ecosystem elements converge in this story that seemed more visual than plot-driven.

The third story, “Old Moon Over Irukad,” by David C. Smith, has mystery, intrigue, action, death, magical resurrection, treasure hunting, and flirting! All great elements of a sword and sorcery story.

"The Ember Inside" by Remco van Straten & Angeline B. Adams is a tale of two histories, one real, and the other imagined, brought forth through magical(?) tea. Ymke the crippled heroine is the protagonist of both. Clever and ponderous!

“Kings Who Die” by Poul Anderson is a fun tale of a rescue of an adrift spaceman by his enemy, and subsequent discussion between him and the big bad boss, who tries to convince him to agree to a rather fascinating plan, with an unexpected ending!

The Introduction, by Fredrick Pohl, was a delightful history of early American science fiction and science fiction conventions. Some interesting facts and tidbits!

Finally making traction on this after only reading the opening editor’s letter before. The first story, “The Curse of the Horsetail Banner” by Dariel R.A. Quiogue, has fine horse-mounted warrior battle sequences. But ultimately didn’t resonate with me. I didn’t identify or sympathize with the main character. Still, not a bad start to the issue.

(Finally had another road trip with just my daughter and me so made some progress on the audiobook the two of us are enjoying together.) Aha! The SciFi plot finally thickens, with a similarity to the Australian Outback era of The X-Men. Cool!

"The Long Watch" (1948) - As my daughter would say, "Depresso Expresso." A tale of sadness and heroics!

"Gentlemen, Be Seated" (1948) - I wonder if Heinlein was given a dare: "Write a story where someone's butt fat saves the day!"

I read a review of the Inhumans TV show last night. It mirrored my own thoughts. It took away the best / most memorable parts of those characters (Medusa's hair, them living on Moon, etc.) and made the show hard to like. Somehow this reminded me of this book. Almost immediately the main character loses the magic that has been his identity. Will this book suffer the same fate as the Inhumans?

I finally started the sequel. It is a fast and fun and plot twisting read so far!

"Requiem" (1939) - Short, sweet, sad. R.I.P.

I was hoping to finish this in 2024. Alas my Christmas and New Year’s time off was so much busier than I thought it would be. Regardless, I’m enjoying this novel and all of its completely unnecessary but still enjoyable fan service.