Comments on: March 2007 newsletter

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:31:48 +0000

Haven’t been able to find the Mystery Scene magazine around here, but congratulations on the cover.

Also, happy birthday to us…my 55 years haven’t been near as exciting as yours, but they’ve been interesting! Have a great day…oh, and as for Eureka Springs…it’s one of my favorite places here in AR, you’ll enjoy it, I think…

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:26:17 +0000

There isn’t enough money in the world to throw at libraries, but then I would say that. Thanks, Ed.

By: Ed King

Ed King — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:19:07 +0000

Thank you Dana ! I share your sentiments on George R. R. Martin. His book with Lisa Tuttle way back was a small treasure, and his fantasy series is the most deeply textured writing I can think of. I’m involved almost involentarily in fund raising for two different libraries in southern Oregon. It seems a shame that They need to turn to non-profits for funding. Hope you are spending most of your time writing also.

By: Jody LaCava

Jody LaCava — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 12:39:29 +0000

Thank You Dana!!

Jody

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:48:23 +0000

Glad you’re along for my ride, Jody. I’ll find Tracy and say hi.

By: Jody LaCava

Jody LaCava — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:59:31 +0000

Goodmorning,

I just briefly went over your blog. This means so much to families back home. My sister, Tracy K. Mellott, is with you on this adventure. It has been close to a year since I have seen her. But prior to that it was seven years. She is very independent but will you please let her know I’m always thinking of her. She is the closest person I have that reminds me of my dad (whom passed away 26 years ago in June). Tracy also has another sister, two nieces and a nephew that love her very much. Thank you again for sending us day to day updates.

Jody

By: Dana

Dana — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 04:44:04 +0000

Thanks, George. One of the things we talked about in the sf workshop was homage in sf. I thought I had this episode memorized word for word, but it was only then I made the connection. I’ll have to go look for Williams’ Wild Cards. FYI, I blew through the first four Winterfell books last month at the instigation of Nancy Pearl, and I’m chewing my fingernails waiting for the fifth. Stop posting to my blog and get back to work!

And thank you, too, Kat. If I could get someone to pay me to write sf, I would. Although I think I’m better at reading it.

By: Kat

Kat — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 04:08:21 +0000

LOL! The Data-BG-Toaster comment is right on the money! I thought I was the only one who caught that!
Your SciFi gift is great…hope you write more. Star fills the only blindspot in Heinlein’s vision. Cheers from outside!

By: George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:28:54 +0000

Re: “toaster”

Actually, it’s a double homage.

Ron Moore, who created the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, worked on STAR TREK with Melinda Snodgrass, and was uudoubtedly aware of her use of “toaster” for Data in “Measure of a Man.” So that’s clearly a tip of the that.

But Melinda herself borrowed the usage from Walter Jon Williams and the WILD CARDS anthologies, where the mad scientists Maxim Travnicek repeatedly calls his android creation Modular Man a toaster.

So far as I know, Walter was the first to use “toaster” as an insulting epithet for a robot/ android/ sentient machine, etc.

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:30:32 +0000

One of the ongoing topics in SFWA is how to attract young readers to sf. If we could get more writers to go into the libraries and maybe the schools to do workshops like this one, we would at least be on the road.

In this case Arisia gave plenty, and when the KCL orders up their books and gets them onto the shelves, it’s a gift that will keep on giving for years to come. Thank you!