Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 3,179 entries, all of them here in full.
January 13, 2023 · 182 words
I Am Revu’d
Locus Online has published Russell Letson’s lengthy, thoughtful review of Imperium Restored. I quote from a key paragraph: I will repeat (again) the observation I made at the very start, two decades back: that despite marketing language and cover iconography, these are not only space-operatic military adventures but al
Read entry →January 11, 2023 · 73 words
Go Yeoh!
Via Variety: Nobody is going to play off Michelle Yeoh. The actor, who won her first Golden Globe on Tuesday, jokingly told the awards show’s producers to “shut up” after trying to cut her speech short. “I can beat you up,” said Yeoh as music started to play midway through her remarks. “And that’s serious.” Man, [&hell
Read entry →January 11, 2023 · 132 words
Saladin Swings Spider-Man
We continue with our survey of releases in 2022 from veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. Saladin Ahmed was at the very first Toolbox in 2007, where he workshopped his novel Throne of the Crescent Moon, subsequently nominated for every award in the field. Saladin was no
Read entry →January 2, 2023 · 121 words
Feed the Bear
It’s the New Year, so the application season for Taos Toolbox has finally opened! Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy, has a proven record of helping new writers make sales, win awards, and build careers. If your New Year’s resolution for 2023 is “working toward becoming a professi
Read entry →December 30, 2022 · 191 words
Buffelhunde
Lawrence M. Schoen has published widely, has won both the Hugo and Campbell Awards, and speaks fluent Klingon. He’s also a veteran of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of fantasy and science fiction. His latest publication in 2022 is based on a singular idea. His popular “Buffalito” series about far-future sta
Read entry →December 26, 2022 · 103 words
7-Day Countdown
Applications for Taos Toolbox, the master class for science fiction and fantasy, will open in just a week’s time! Taught by Nancy Kress and Walter Jon Williams, the workshop has been in existence since 2007, and— as should be obvious from the number of posts I’ve made in the last few weeks, featuring published au
Read entry →December 23, 2022 · 272 words
Alien Pledge
I continue my survey of works published in 2022 by veterans of Taos Toolbox, master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. Toolbox 2008 veteran Brian K. Lowe has had an interestingly various career, including the Stolen Future trilogy, the Nemesis series of pulp-inspired thrillers, the fantasy Once a Knight,
Read entry →December 19, 2022 · 379 words
Just Add Fairy Dust
I’m continuing my survey of 2022 works by veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. Kelly Robson was at the very first Toolbox in 2006, and since then has carved a career for herself, filled with nominations for Hugos, Nebulas, Campbells, and Auroras. She writes like no one
Read entry →December 18, 2022 · 55 words
Raised on Robbery
Let’s say for the sake of argument that you were a bank robber in Duluth, Minnesota. What bank would you rob, and how would you do it? Please be specific and make a list of gear. Jim Richardson of Duluth decided to see how dark ChatGPT would go. Answer: very dark. And very quickly.
Read entry →December 17, 2022 · 1,316 words
Stock
I have noted in passing the current controversy over AI-generated art, with artists asking their fellow creatives to make sure that any art illustrating their work is created by an actual person, and that any stock art being used is not created by an AI. I sympathize, and I wish all creatives well. I suspect […]
Read entry →December 14, 2022 · 186 words
Hot Title!
Continuing my end-of-the-year roundup of 2022 publications by veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. The English-born Alan Smale is best known for his Clash of Eagles series of alternative-history novels, in which the Roman Empire takes on the Mound Builders of North Amer
Read entry →December 11, 2022 · 184 words
Treasures From the Toolbox
I’m commencing my end-of-the-year Taos Toolbox review by bringing to your attention new works by Taos Toolbox veterans. Our writers have been published, won Hugo awards, and are maintaining careers in a changing and challenging field. And let’s not forget that books make excellent last-minute holiday presents! Today’s
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