Orson Scott Card is a writer that for many years existed in my mind as part of an amorphous mass of ‘Hard SF’ writers, most of them American, that I had not read and did not have any great interest in reading. Not due to any particular dislike for Hard SF, or for Americans, but because they were onContinue reading “Ender’s Game”
Author Archives: Damien Walter
British Library Discovers Blogs…And Only a Decade Late
I woke up this morning to discover that the British Library and a collection of their National Trust partners had declared today a sort of national blog day. In an attempt to capture the minutiae of ordinary life our nations bastions of learning have invited the normal everyday of people to toddle along to theContinue reading “British Library Discovers Blogs…And Only a Decade Late”
Gardens of the Moon
I had to have a long hard think before deciding whether to post a review this book. Not so much because of the book, more because I really can’t decide whether I like it or not. I have multi-farious faults but lack of an opinion isn’t generaly one of them, so finding myself so indecisiveContinue reading “Gardens of the Moon”
Oh…the madness…
Sitting out of rehearsal for the event I was working on this afternoon I outlined two more chapters of Sword&Sorcery. This gives me the the first act in detail and the whole story arc in broad strokes from last weeks work (thats all long hand and as I don’t need it directly I’m not goingContinue reading “Oh…the madness…”
Outlining
I put in two good, two hour writing sessions today, continuing the outline I began midweek. I’m taking the outline process further than I have in the past and at the moment it’s feeling like a very constructive way of working. My reservation with outlining is that when I sit down to write, that ‘whatsContinue reading “Outlining”
And the kids go crazy…
I spent the morning introducing children’s writer Jacqueline Wilson to a school full of 7-11 yr olds. I’ve never seen that many kids so excited about meeting a writer before – and who says books aren’t cool! Unfortunately I left my camera on a table in a cafe after the event. Doh! Hopefully I’ll beContinue reading “And the kids go crazy…”
The Next Big Thing?
An idea I seem to have stumbled into three times in as many weeks…the ‘breakout’ artist. Every type of art gets them from time to time. Folk music got Dylan. Kids books just got JK Rowling. Sports get them as well, basketball got Michael Jordan. Something about an individuals work gets them noticed far andContinue reading “The Next Big Thing?”
Why Blog?
As usual the folks over at the Asimov’s magazine forum have sparked up another interesting conversation. http://www.asimovs.com/discus/messages/2/6239.html?1159539485 Is blogging egocentric? Given that most blogs are never read or read by only a small handful of people, you could argue that a blog is no more egocentric than a secret diary. In many ways I findContinue reading “Why Blog?”
Evil Yahoo!
I wish I could say I left Yahoo! as part of a principled stand against their activities in China, or as a protest against their horrendously corporate identity. Perhaps these things crossed my mind, but the truth is I left because Yahoo! stopped working. There is no doubt that Yahoo! represents the worst of theContinue reading “Evil Yahoo!”
Bike it!
Found a new love. Brought her home with me. Had her stolen by some dirty handed scutter…nnoooooo! So I’d had the new montain bike for twelve days when it went awol. I’m starting to feel better now that the replacement has arived. But I’m still struggling to deal with the idea that my ride isContinue reading “Bike it!”
Electric Velocipede
Just found out I’ve had a story accepted for Electric Velocipede. Its a very cool magazine which has previously published many really good writers including Hal Duncan, Paul DiFillipo and Jay Lake. They have bought the short story ‘Momentum’ and will be publishing it sometime in 2007. http://members.aol.com/evzine/
Horus Rising by Dan Abnett
Under the benevolent leadership of the Emperor the Imperium has stretched across the galaxy in a golden age… Whoa there – Golden age? Benevolent leadership? Isn’t this Warhammer 40K, the most brutal SF franchise known to man and home of the universes toughest homosexual icons, the Space Marines? The new series from the BlackContinue reading “Horus Rising by Dan Abnett”
Damien Walter 