Long Time Expat In Japan
My kanji for the month is part of an 8 kanji phrase, like many are. See below for the whole thing. I wrote the last four. 天地玄黄 宇宙洪荒 But I’ll start with the first two. Tenchi means sky and ground, or for the poets out there, heaven and earth. It basically means everything and everywhere. Then … Continue reading Shodo – Universal truth (not a fortune cookie)
I'm reading a book, basically a transcription of stories told on the Moth stage. One story kind of hit hard. Let me quote it here. Western mental health workers who came here [East Africa] immediately after the genocide, and we had to ask some of them to leave.” I said, “What was the problem?” And … Continue reading Moth Wisdom
Book Review Rogue Protocal By Martha Wells I spoil. This is a 150 page story, the 3rd in a 4-book series. The second book felt a little pricey. The last 3 were released in May, August, and October, 2018. So it's a 600 page novel split into four full-priced morsels. I'm certain that I've detected … Continue reading Book Review – Rogue Protocal
Book Review Six Wakes By Mur Lafferty I don't always buy every book that's nominated for the Hugo best novel, but I do check them out to see if they appeal. In 2018, the nominees were: The Stone Sky, by N.K. JemisinThe Collapsing Empire, by John ScalziProvenance, by Ann LeckieSix Wakes, by Mur LaffertyRaven Stratagem, … Continue reading Book Review – Six Wakes
I read John Scalzi's blog fairly often. He has a section called Big Idea, where he introduces scifi novels, collections, etc. I found The Promise of Space and Other Stories there. I wanted short. I wanted scifi. I was in the right mood to buy the book. As an impulse, I bought the e-version on … Continue reading Book Review – The Promise of Space and Other Stories
Book Review Bannerless By Carrie Vaughn As always, I spoil with out warning so be...warned. I've never read any of Ms. Vaughn's novels. She's famous for a series in which a werewolf named Kitty hosts a radio talk show for the supernatural. I discovered Bannerless on John Scalzi's blog, Whatever, and decided to give it … Continue reading Book Review – Bannerless
Book Review Artificial Condition By Martha Wells As always, I spoil when it pleases me. About 4 months ago I read the first in this series, All Systems Red, which I bought for four bucks on Kindle, and was very pleased. It set up the character, as well as established a longer arc and mystery. … Continue reading Book Review – Artificial Condition
Book Review Head On By John Scalzi I may include spoilers. Fore-warned and -armed and all that. There are only a handful of authors whose books I will buy almost sight unseen. Scalzi is one of them. He's one of the few authors whose books I will buy in hardcover, as well (also, the discount … Continue reading Book Review – Head On
If you read my bibliography, you'll know that I try to write fiction. I got the bug, so to speak, two years back, maybe a little more. I sold one story so far, trying to sell more. There are a bunch of professional magazines for the type of fiction I want to write, maybe 10 … Continue reading The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction – and How They Won Me Over
Poetry Review The Trouble with Poetry - And Other Poems By Billy Collins I did not buy this book of poetry. I say that not to distance myself from it or poetry in general. I state it simply as a point of fact. I've written before that I am a genre reader. I like my … Continue reading Poetry Review – The Trouble with Poetry
B.S. Donovan 