Category Archives: On Writing

A Tale of Three Jackets

In order to help you understand this completely I need to tell you an anecdote about my father.  He had a great sense of humor back in the days when most of us lived together under one roof, before we … Continue reading

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On Rereading Martin Eden by Jack London; Part Three: The Finale

“Martin Eden” is not Jack London’s best book.  In fact, it’s not even one of his better books.  His best works are his short stories.  Not all of them, because he wrote many, but the ones in which he threw … Continue reading

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On Rereading Martin Eden by Jack London; Part Two: What It Means to Be a Writer

This books hits almost too close to home.  It’s uncanny how reading it now more than four decades after I first read it, I still have many of the same emotions.  Martin Eden decides to become a writer.  He works … Continue reading

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On Rereading Martin Eden by Jack London; Part One: Futurama, Self-Publishing, and Jack London’s Rapacity

Last night I couldn’t sleep.  Sometimes I get insomnia for a simple reason like sleeping too long during my afternoon nap, but such was not the case this time.  Three seemingly unrelated bits of input created deep despondency in me, … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Best of Connie Willis: Award-Winning Stories

Connie Willis didn’t appear on the science fiction scene until the early eighties, long after I had stopped reading much in the genre.  I didn’t read any of her work, therefore, until a couple of decades later.  Right away, soon … Continue reading

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Do You Fear Death?

I suppose that many people would say that when you reach the age of sixty it is natural to think about death sometimes.  You are closer to the end of your journey; thoughts naturally turn to your destination and what … Continue reading

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It’s Been a Long, Strange Trip

For this reflective look back upon my life I find myself in sun-baked Brooklyn, New York.  I didn’t plan to be in New York at this time.  I had just moved from San Diego, California to Yakima, Washington when I … Continue reading

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Book Review: Beyond the Cascade by A. H. Jessup; Part One: Writer’s Workshop

In my first lonely weeks living in a small hotel room in San Diego while on my first step of moving to the States after thirty-five years abroad, I reached out to seek the company of like-minded people, specifically writers.  … Continue reading

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Book Review: Nebula Award Stories Eleven edited by Ursula K. LeGuin; Part Two: Tweaking Reality

There’s straight science fiction full of wondrous wildness like starships and androids and new worlds and bizarre aliens and so on, and there’s straight fantasy full of wizards and witches and fairies and elves and dwarfs and so on; and … Continue reading

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Book Review: Nebula Award Stories Eleven edited by Ursula K. LeGuin; Part One: Musing on the New Wave

I haven’t finished reading this book yet, but after just finishing the winning novella, “Home is the Hangman” by Roger Zelazny, I wanted to write something while the impression of it was fresh in my mind.  In short, this story … Continue reading

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