Hugo Voter Countdown

Posted on July 25, 2013 by J. C. Conway

The final ballot for the 2013 Hugo Awards is now under way. All ballots must be received by the voting deadline of Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. In order to vote, you must be a LoneStarCon 3 member–i.e. a member of the World Science Fiction Society for the 2013 annual convention in San Antonio, Texas.

If you are not yet a member, now is the time. Rates go up in August. The current regular Adult Membership rate is $220. It increases to $240 August 1. Also, if you sign up in time, you are entitled to download the Hugo Voter Packet.

If you are a member, keep reading and remember to vote. The nominees this year are terrific.

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SETI: Waiting Game–Maybe a Long One

Posted on July 22, 2013 by J. C. Conway

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (“SETI”) is based on a noble concept with sound premises and the late Carl Sagan championed its cause quite effectively. I see SETI’s fundamental outlook as something like this: “With all that space out there, there must be others capable of at least broadcasting in frequencies we can detect.”

Imaginations can run wild with that assertion alone, and giddy anticipation of true communication quickly follows (at least for all us nerds that grew up in the shadow of The Day the Earth Stood Still and other timeless SF classics). But the more likely benefit of searching is a little more practical: We might learn something of value.

But how likely is that?

We haven’t a clue. It depends entirely on what we don’t know. Are we nearing a peak? Have we finally found most of the categories and principles that generally apply to the universe? Or are we just a step or two out of the stone age completely blind to the simplest of fundamental truths?

Generally, even the humblest among us think we know, in this age of science and its advances, at least a lot (if not an awful lot). And as to the stuff we don’t know, we’ve got a good idea already of what that might be, too. That tends to evoke a pie-chart view something like this:

Knowledge 1

But upon even the slightest reflection, haven’t we felt that way during every step of our completely-misguided infancy? While we don’t know what we don’t know, it seems far more likely that the real pie chart is something more akin to:

Knowledge 2

That’s not so bad. In fact, it’s downright envigorating to imagine the reach and breadth of what we might still learn, and it strongly suggests that we should be listening, through programs like SETI, with all our hearts. If humanity is still in its technological infancy, the probability is high that anything we detect will originate from something more advanced. It might be hard to recognize. It could be tough to understand. But there’s gold in them hills and the sky is not the limit.

So we listen.

For more information about SETI, visit the SETI Institute. Or view either or both of the following videos, the first being Part 5 of Carl Sagan’s Series, and the second being a 45-minute program about SETI.

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A Guide to Those 2013 RITA Winners

Posted on July 21, 2013 by J. C. Conway

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Romance is booming. It’s a genre with great writers, agents and publishers, and a fantastic organization, the Romance Writers of America, helping it flourish. A wonderful way to see where Romance, including some of its many sub-genres, stands right now … Continue reading →

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Available Now: Worlds Less Traveled

Posted on July 12, 2013 by J. C. Conway

The July 2013 Update of Perihelion Science Fiction is not out, with my short story, “Worlds Less Traveled,” and eight other new and original stories and two new articles.

PerihelionPerihelion, formerly a print publication, is an online magazine free for readers. The opportunity to donate is provided at four modest levels (USD): Rocket Level–$2.00; Moon Level–$5.00; Planet Level–$10.00; and Galaxy Level–$15.00. It is edited by Sam Bellotto, Jr. and Contributing Editor Eric M. Jones. The contributing short story authors in order of appearance in this issue are Erin Lane, Daniel Huddleston, K.C. Ball, Fiona Moore, Igor Teper, John C. Conway, Wayne Helge, Rob Butler, and Rik Hunik.

“Worlds Less Traveled” is a first person, present tense short story about an attorney at a deposition. He has a few problems to work through, beginning with his waning anti-psychotic field and then moving on to disconcerting irregularities in the proceedings. Is this a run-of-the-mill terraform-defect deposition about the stability of Brumal, an insignificant world at the outskirts of Earth-managed space? And if it’s not, then what is, in fact, going on in this cold and isolated place?

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Reviews and Feedback: Seed of Doubt

Posted on July 11, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Some online publications permit readers to make comments and provide feedback. As a writer, I love that feature. Feedback is valuable in all its forms. Do you love it? Hate it? Like it okay, but not too impressed? For better or worse, just say so.

Untied ShoelacesOne market that is very good for feedback–meaning it offers the feature and some of its readers avail themselves of it–is Untied Shoelaces of the Mind, which offers text and audio versions of its stories. Not only do some of its readers volunteer comments, reactions and ratings, but its editor, Geoffrey C. Porter, is one of those rare short fiction editors that fairly consistently provides feedback to submitting writers, whether accepted or rejected (trust me, I know–I’ve had six rejections compared to one acceptance).

I love the story Untied Shoelaces ultimately accepted and I’m happy to see that readers appreciate it. It’s a literary piece called “Seed of Doubt.” It has drawn the highest readership in its issue since the first day it was published (which might be because the pitch is good, or because of its light, 714-word length), and the comments have been, for the most part, encouraging. For instance, WS offered: “Not normally my kind of story, but this is really well done. Both authentic and accessible. Nice balance of details.” And SW (no relation to WS that I know of) said: “Nice work capturing Bobby’s internal conflict. I very much like that I’m left wondering whether she’s just some kid who wishes she had super powers, or whether she’s just told the truth.”

The most detailed comment was particularly complimentary, from Karin:

I thought this was fantastic. There were a lot of layers here — societal, emotional, even philosophical. I think there was a great use of restraint in allowing the story to unfold. It’s very easy to get carried away with the emotional component. I particularly love the line “‘I don’t feel a thing,’ she said through a swelling lip.” You can feel the girls’ pride, humiliation, and commitment to her defense mechanism. Very well done.

Thank you for those wonderful words. Of course, it’s not all rosy. Nor should it be. For instance, Scitale said, “So this little girl wishes she had the power to make the bully go away… I don’t know, this story didn’t really do anything for me.” To be honest, a lot of people might think that. The reviews are certainly mixed. But like I said, I love the story, and I’m glad some of the readers like it as well. I wish more publications would offer feedback and comments, and as to those that do, I wish more readers would use them. And readers should not worry too much about the writers’ feelings. Writers need thick skin. Be civil, of course. But well-stated honesty (including definitely comments like Scitale’s) is the best feedback a writer can get. So thank you, WS, Scitale, SW and Karin, and any all other readers providing feedback. Keep it up.  

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Worlds Less Traveled Countdown

Posted on July 4, 2013 by J. C. Conway

BrumalMy short science fiction tale, “Worlds Less Traveled,” will appear in one week and one day (July 12) at Perihelion Science Fiction. The piece has received praise from professionals and editors. The story starts at a moment that may, or may not, be critical to the main character and the events to follow:

My anti-psychotic field shifts to low-power mode. Sparkling clarity rushes in.

On Brumal, lightyears from Earth, I activate my Pocket Paralegal, Penelope. Her soft voice resonates in my ear. “Yes Mr. Maynard?”

I respond sub-audibly. “The McLeary generator is failing. Please diagnose it.”

I wait, embracing the flood of awareness I know cannot last.

We learn immediately thereafter that he is at a deposition on a poorly-terraformed world. Yes, it’s attorneys in space, a topic I relish. But the psychosis is a different issue, as is the unexpected role it might play in events as they unfold.

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Perihelion Magazine to Publish “Worlds Less Traveled”

Posted on June 16, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Perihelion CoverMy short science-fiction story, “Worlds Less Traveled,” has been selected to appear in the July 12, 2013 update of the online science-fiction magazine, Perihelion Science Fiction, edited by Sam Bellotto, Jr., with contributing editor, Eric M. Jones.

Perihelion features science fiction stories, reviews of movies and books, editorials, comic strips, science fiction artwork and well-researched factual science-and-related articles. It was founded in the 1960s by Bellotto and Eric M. Jones. It was a print magazine at the time and acclaimed as a pioneer. Bellotto is also a published author. His novel, “Yellow Glad Days,” is available from Double Dragon Publishing.

“Worlds Less Traveled” is the short tale of an Earth attorney at an off-world deposition too far from home as he faces a crisis of reality. When the July 12, 2013 update is available, a link to it will be included here.

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Procyon Descent Anniversary

Posted on May 25, 2013 by J. C. Conway

It’s was a year ago this month that my flash-fiction story, “Procyon Descent,” was published, and the reactions I get from readers that normally like my work are still mixed.

The idea that colonists from Earth will traverse the gulf between stars in generation ships to finally claim a new world is not new. It has been the subject of many books and short stories, and even some movies. But the backdrop is still rich with possibilities. Hardship will abound, and “Procyon Descent” should, if I did my job, make us wonder whether we today could fairly judge the actions of those that ultimately endure the traverse.

Some find the story shocking, depressing or grim, which it is in a slightly Lord-of-the-Flies vein. But I also see, at its core, sacrifice, determination and a ray of hope. Farther Stars Than These, edited by E.S. Wynn, agreed to publish the very short story. Of course, you can decide for yourself if the short tale is worth telling. Will they survive? Did they take appropriate action? It begins like this:

The day comes too soon. I work up the length of the crop terrace. My waist-high row is lined with scrawny beets sucking what they can from the muck of the nutrient stream. Across is a row of an old Earth grain called barley, followed by eight rows of sheet fungus and more rows of stuff we call food, lining the curved floor that turns up and out of sight behind the matching curved ceiling. It wraps around back to here, everything pressed to the floor by the spin of the ship that’s been groaning under the strain for over 800 years. Or so it’s told. The lights wink.

“He’s early,” I complain.

Megan, two rows over, slows her gray-water flow to a trickle. “Just seems.”

I gawk a moment, seeking her eye, just to confirm someone shares this feeling of being rushed. I see it’s so. But it doesn’t help.

Things get worse.

I’ve written many uplifting stories. This one probably does not top the list in that category. And if you are opposed to anything containing violence, even as an integral part of the story, don’t read it.

It’s 971 words long, all told. The story is still available to read at Farther Stars Than These. That site permits comments, as does this. If you choose to read it, please feel free to react.

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RITA Finalist Online Chats

Posted on May 22, 2013 by J. C. Conway

Romance Writers of America is in the middle of an 11-week series of interactive video-chat events highlighting the 2013 RITA Award finalist authors. This is a terrific opportunity for fans and followers to meet one another and ask their favorite authors questions face-to-face in an intimate online environment. RWA hosts the events in a fun Q&A format through Shindig.com.

Participation is free. You’ll need internet access, and if you want to participate via video, you’ll need a webcam and computer microphone. Only the first 1,000 RSVPs can be granted access to each weekly event. At each event, one participant will win a set of that week’s finalist books.

Each event begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time, 5 p.m. Pacific. The next session is tomorrow, featuring the finalists in Short Contemporary Series Romance with Jessica Hart, Day Leclaire, Susan Meier, Sarah Morgan, Robin Perini, Christine Rimmer, and Loreth Anne White. The moderator will be Sarah Wendell (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books).

After tomorrow, the schedule is:

  • Inspirational Romance June 6, with Elizabeth Camden, Jennifer Delamere, Robin Lee Hatcher, Rachel Hauck, Marta Perry, Cheryl Reavis, Missy Tippens, and Becky Wade.
  • Best First Book June 13, with Kristen Callihan, Sharon Lynn Fisher, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Anna Lee Huber, Katie McGarry, and Simone St. James.
  • Young Adult Romance June 20, with Robin LaFevers, Katie McGarry, Emily McKay, and Erica O’Rourke.
  • Long Contemporary Series Romance June 27, with Jean Brashear, Michelle Celmer, Pamela Hearon, and RaeAnne Thayne.
  • Romantic Suspense July 11, with Cherry Adair, Cindy Gerard (tentative), Laura Griffin, Bronwyn Parry (tentative), and Sharon Sala.

For more information and to RSVP, go to the RWA Site. Enjoy the chats and find out about those dashing heroes, daring heroines, writing habits, and more!

Already completed were the very successful events for Contemporary Single Title Romance (Barbara Freethy, Barbara Hannay, Ruthie Knox, Kim Law, Roni Loren, Jill Shalvis, and Roxanne St. Claire), Paranormal Romance (Kristen Callihan, Cynthia Eden, Angie Fox, J.T. Geissinger, Larissa Ione, and Maggie Shayne), Romance Novella (Sophie Jordan, Ruthie Knox, Sally MacKenzie, and Jodi Thomas), Historical Romance (Pamela Clare, Cara Elliott, Anne Gracie, Sabrina Jeffries, Jade Lee, and Sarah MacLean) and Novel with Strong Romantic Elements (Maria Geraci, Pamela Hartshorne, Anna Lee Huber, Sharla Lovelace, Kristina McMorris, Jane Myers Perrine, and Simone St. James).

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Hugo Voter Packets Now Available

Posted on May 19, 2013 by J. C. Conway

LoneStarCon 3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, now has the Hugo Voter Packets available to voting members of the World Science Fiction Society. If you are not a member, but are an avid reader of science fiction, consider joining. For members not planning to attend the convention in San Antonio, Texas this year, a Supporting Membership suffices to qualify you to vote. As a voting member, you may obtain the Voter Packet, which includes electronic versions of the nominated works in the various categories, including the nominated novels, novellas, novelettes and short stories. Supporting Membership costs about $60 right now.

To become a member go to the World Science Fiction Convention’s Membership Page.

If you are a member, you can download your copy of the Voter Package at the World Science Fiction Convention’s 2013 Hugo Voter Packet Page. You will need your membership information and PIN.

To see a complete list of the 2013 nominees, see the World Science Fiction Convention’s March 30 Press Release.

 

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