(no subject)

I was going to write "10 things that suck about being a spiritual atheist" but frankly, I can't be bothered.

I am that tired.

10 Things Wrong with S/F Publishing today

1. Too many otherwise good books are being published with crappy titles. The title is not an add-on, folks. It's a part of the story. An evocative title can sell a book. A crappy title can leave a good book on the shelves.

2. Too many Star Trek novels. Blech.

3. Author's names should never be bigger than the title, I don't care who they are. I know the Author is what sells many books -- I, who follow several authors like others follow sports stars, understand this -- but it's still ugly and stupid, IMO.

4. Too many mediocre books are flooding the market. Crap fantasy is at an all-time high, crap SF is just behind it. Now, admittedly, Sturgeon's Law says the same thing is happening in other genres, but let's face it, other than a few authors, I don't follow other genres much.

5. Too many idiots still see the genre as kid's stuff. This is galling. Recently I was accosted at work while trying to peacefully read through lunch by some woman who haughtily informed me that she used to read SF, but then grew up. Her supervisor (currently reading Return of the King) and I shared a tolerantly annoyed look and went back to reading.

6. Too many of the classics of SF publishing are now out-of-print.

7. Too many cover artists are still painting covers that have little to no relevance to the story inside.

8. Robert Jordan is still writing and being published.

9. I've yet to finish a story.

10. It still pays less than professional sports. ;)

(no subject)

The Shattered World short story I was working on has become a full-sized novel.

Shattered World Status

World: Detailed in the places the characters move through, broad strokes in the places they do not.
Characters: Set. Good.
Plot: Figured, outlined.
Actual writing: Begun.

Can you tell my stop at Starbucks for hot chai has woken me up now?

(no subject)

Caffeine levels reaching dangerous lows.

Cannot ... function much . . . longer!

(no subject)

Interesting community: pro_war_liberal

I will say now that I'm more and more turning to this viewpoint. I will likely not debate it with you. I can't handle the stress right now.

Yes, I think Bush is a nozzle. Yes, I think he's getting into it for the wrong reasons. I still think the US does not have the right to dictate policy to sovereign nations.

But I also think Hussein will never comply with the UN resolutions, and unless we enforce those resolutions they are utterly meaningless. And like it or not, we're the primary enforcement arm of the UN these days.

Do I want the US to unilaterally go in? No. I want UN approval and sanction for any mission/war. Do I want to avoid war, period? No. I hold the abhorrent-to-some view that sometimes war is necessary. It's never a good thing, it's never the best way, and it's never desirable -- but it is sometimes necessary.

And yes, my family lost people in several wars. Including the gulf war.

(no subject)

You know what I'd love to see? A site that has old school pictures. Preferably from Napa. That'd be neat.

(no subject)

Oh --

My sister Blair is doing a Site Sale of Girl Scout Cookies this weekend -- Sunday the 2nd -- from Noon to 1pm at the Albertsons on Bond & Laguna blvds in Elk Grove.

I'll be with them. Come on down and buy some cookies!