I’ve read good things about Ted Chiang. I read that he’s an amazing author, that his stories are incredibly creative, and that he pushes the boundaries of science fiction. I picked up a copy of his most recent collection, Exhalation: Stories, late last year and finally unearthed it from the stack of unread books next…
Remembering Jeff Beck [Music]
I’m embarrassed to admit, up until I was 19 or 20 years old, the only Jeff Beck song I knew was “Freeway Jam“, a great instrumental to listen to when cruising on the highway. However, I was lucky enough to stumble upon his solo album, Blow by Blow, in a used record shop one day….
Review – The Forge of God
The author Greg Bear, who recently passed away, has been on my radar for many years, but for some reason I can’t explain, I’ve never read any of his stories. Of course, I felt obligated to honor his memory by picking up one of his highly-regarded novels, The Forge of God. While it didn’t win…
Know Your True Worth
There’s nothing wrong with sharing motivation, not only to try and get yourself on the right track, but it feels good when you’re able to motivate others. January 1st is the time when many of us set goals for the year. Maybe we want to lose weight, get in shape, learn a new language, finish…
Best Book Lists [Books]
Yes, it’s that time of year. Everyone is publishing lists of the best books of 2022. The lists include the top ten (or more), the best in various genres, best books for women, best for men, best for children, and even celebrity favorites. To me, lists like these are subjective. Everyone has different tastes. To…
Moving to Mastodon [Writing]
So I had been planning on getting back on Twitter recently, but right after I made the decision the company was bought by Elon Musk. At first, I didn’t care one way or another about it and decided to wait a bit and see what happened. My backup plan was to move to Mastodon, which…
Review – Dark Matter [Books]
Earlier this year, I was looking for a new short story collection to read. I’ve been trying to expand outside of the usual speculative fiction arena and read authors from other cultures, ethnicities, and genders. I feel it allows me insight into others that I might not otherwise have. I’ve already read speculative fiction collections…
Reading for a Longer Life [Books]
I recently stumbled upon a study conducted by Yale University’s School of Public Health that found a link between reading and longer life spans. The study, conducted over twenty-plus years, found that, “Compared to non-book readers, book readers had a 23-month survival advantage…” I find that fascinating. This goes to show the importance of reading….
Experimenting with Landscapes [Painting]
It’s no secret I love nature, whether it’s spending time with the plants in my yard or hiking through the local nature preserves and parks. Nature speaks to me. It reinvigorates me. That’s why I’ve been experimenting with landscape painting. It’s not only a way to pay homage to the natural settings I love so…
Review – Elric of Melniboné: The Elric Saga Part 1 [Books]
Elric of Melniboné is a difficult character to describe, but I find him fascinating. First appearing in print back in 1961, Elric was immediately described as an anti-hero. I don’t disagree, but author Michael Moorcock created a character far more complex than a simple anti-hero. And he built a multi-verse that is both beautiful and terrifying. …