Author Archives: Damien Walter

Philip Jose Farmer, rebel against reality

Philip José Farmer, who passed out of this world yesterday, was among the last of a generation who emerged from the revolutionary literature of science fiction. Along with contemporaries including Robert Heinlen, Isaac Asimov, Philip K Dick and and Kurt Vonnegut, Farmer dedicated his life to writing stories that forced their readers to confront andContinue reading “Philip Jose Farmer, rebel against reality”

A Story of Courage, Tenacity and Dedication

Here in the UK we once had a prime time children’s TV programme called Record Breakers. On said programme, the now sadly departed Roy Castle would play the trumpet over the theme song whilst a chorus of gospel singers (I may be exagerating, but this is how my memory remebers it) sang the shows catchContinue reading “A Story of Courage, Tenacity and Dedication”

Pedants’ cumupence

Stephen Fry delivers a long deserved slap down to pedants everywhere in the latest episode of his podcast series. My favourite moment is when Fry compares pedantry to sins like sloth and gluttony; a natural human response but one to be roundly discouraged. Also listen out for Fry’s cal for a new term for CCTV.Continue reading “Pedants’ cumupence”

The next generation of sci-fi writers

There’s a wealth of talent out there – so who will be the SF and fantasy authors of tomorrow? The Guardian’s recent quest to catalogue the 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read scoured the vast galaxy of tales told under the banner of “science fiction and fantasy”, and boiled them down to a few dozen ofContinue reading “The next generation of sci-fi writers”

The 100 most beautiful words

Alison Flood toys cat-like with the 100 most beautiful words over at the Guardian book blog. Now I’m more of a storyteller than a wordsmith, and once appalled a friend by saying that words for me were just a means to end, but even I can see the pleasure in these words. Looking at theContinue reading “The 100 most beautiful words”

Horizon reviewed @ The Fix

Horizon gets a good review from Michelle Lee over at The Fix, and overall Murky Depths #6 gets a good response. Which reminds me, I’m well behind on my reviewing chores at the moment. Poluto #4 here I come… “Horizon” by Damien G. Walter is a standout of the issue, a dark science fiction taleContinue reading “Horizon reviewed @ The Fix”

You must be f@$king joking

Anyone who has my opinion on _poets_ will see the irony in my ‘What writer should you be’ test result… You Should Be A Poet You craft words well, in creative and unexpected ways. And you have a great talent for evoking beautiful imagery… Or describing the most intense heartbreak ever. You’re already naturally aContinue reading “You must be f@$king joking”

2009: The End of Short Fiction as We Know It

So, 2009 is not shaping up to be a good year for writers or fans of SF/F short fiction. Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine are reducing production to six double (as opposed to twelve single) issues a year, Years Best Fantasy & Horror is closing, Years Best Fantasy is going online, and most shocking ofContinue reading “2009: The End of Short Fiction as We Know It”

Lit-Fic : the genre that dare not speak its name

David Barnett has posted and excellent piece at the Guardian book blog on the way mainstream literature denies the existence of science fictional stories in its midst. But I wonder, is science fiction really the genre that dare not speak its name? Or does that plaudit really go to literary fiction?

1000 Best Books @ The Guardian and beyond…

The Guardian have gone list crazy this week, attacking with gusto the 1000 best novels we all should read before we die, including a section dedicated to science fiction and fantasy. Its a great list, with some wonderful reads, and looks at genre fiction in the broadest sense including both staight-up genre works and moreContinue reading “1000 Best Books @ The Guardian and beyond…”