The genres of SF, Fantasy, Horror and other styles of the fantastic have changed a lot in recent years. Those changes, to my mind, have been hugely positive. And if I can identify one cause at the heart of those changes it is this: diversity. To use the Hugo and Nebula awards as a benchmarks,Continue reading “Weird Tales editor has insulted us all”
Author Archives: Damien Walter
Chauvinist SF misses the point of the future
There’s a logical fallacy in this club’s claims that it welcomes women members, which is rather like the rhetoric of the well-schooled military officer. Of course they want women in the army. It’s just, well, a soldier must be physically strong, naturally violent and preferably have a todger so you can pee standing up. Any woman who fulfilsContinue reading “Chauvinist SF misses the point of the future”
Aggressive reviewing is here to stay…learn to deal with it
Writing my Weird Things column for The Guardian, I regularly mention books that relate to the theme at hand. And I’ve done a fair amount of reviewing, both professional and For-The-Luv. I tend to be a nice cuddly reviewer, although I have filleted a few books when I thought they called for it. What I’veContinue reading “Aggressive reviewing is here to stay…learn to deal with it”
Feel THE FEAR…and write it anyway
I did a little whoop of joy, followed by a nod of recognition when I received Gareth L. Powell’s guest post in my email inbox. The first because Mr. Powell is among Britain’s very best science fiction authors. The second because like every writer, I recognise THE FEAR that Gareth describes. You will no doubt recogniseContinue reading “Feel THE FEAR…and write it anyway”
Is there any such thing as Realist Horror?
The latest guest post here on damiengwalter.com comes from Niki Valentine, author of psychological horror and literary fiction under an alternative pen name. But where do we draw the line between supernatural and realist horror? Niki Valentine may be one of the few authors who really knows the answer. Check out her novels and otherContinue reading “Is there any such thing as Realist Horror?”
Star
First published in Universe #1 Star by Damien Walter Heinrich always volunteers for class activities. The last two study periods of Friday afternoon are put aside for a visit from a policeman. The students ask him why he does not wear a uniform. His answer makes everyone laugh. Criminals, he says, do not wear uniforms.Continue reading “Star”
Mythinterpretation
One of the maxims we’re all learning to live with in the early 21st century is that the extreme ends of any argument support each other’s existence. What would rightwing internet trolls do without leftwing reactionaries? How would al-Qaida go on, without neocon hatred fuelling its fire? And, of course, what would outraged atheists doContinue reading “Mythinterpretation”
Guest Post : A New Pulp think tank
Following on from our discussion What is New Pulp and why do we want one? , Andrez Bergen offers up a genuinely intriguing insight in to the varied definitions of New Pulp amongst a wave of writers all engaged in writing it. The excitement of pulp, its working class roots, and the digital revolution all play aContinue reading “Guest Post : A New Pulp think tank”
What is the New Pulp and why do we want one?
Some weeks back I penned a column on the phenomenon of the New Pulp, and since then I’ve enjoyed watching the term continue to emerge as a zeitgeist from the group mind of genre fiction. David Barnett, author of the upcoming Gideon Smith novels, talks here about the Nu Pulp. Geek Syndicate provide a niceContinue reading “What is the New Pulp and why do we want one?”
The battle for geek culture
As a fan of fantasy fiction, it’s been entertaining watching mainstream cultural critics’ baffled responses to Game of Thrones, which has surprised many by becoming the biggest show on TV this year. Gina Bellafante of the New York Times was among the first to come a cropper when she made the rash statement that noContinue reading “The battle for geek culture”
7 signs you are ready to self-publish (a checklist)
For my work at The Guardian I spend a lot of time looking at new books, and I’ve gone out of my way to look at new books by indie published writers. And my conclusion has been that the vast majority of independently published writers aren’t ready. The books aren’t ready and their authors aren’tContinue reading “7 signs you are ready to self-publish (a checklist)”
What neuroscience tells us about the art of fiction
Jim Worrad is a founder member of The Speculators, Leicester’s most bad ass SF writing group, Clarion workshop graduate and a BAMF of a writer to boot. Find more of the man here. Under discussion in this guest post is what neuroscience can contribute to the craft of fiction. Read on! One of the veryContinue reading “What neuroscience tells us about the art of fiction”
Damien Walter 