Today's links

Ryan North's 'How to Take Over the World': Popular science as a series of supervillainous thought-experiments.
This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 16 Apr 2022"

Today's links

Daniel Pinkwater's "Crazy in Poughkeepsie": Another Pinkwater masterpiece, in which we sojourn to whale heaven.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2012, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 12 Apr 2022"

Today's links

John M Ford's "Aspects": An unfinished masterpiece by a legend of science fiction and fantasy.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2002, 2012, 2017
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 09 Apr 2022"

Marc Laidlaw’s “Underneath the Oversea”

A wondrous fairytale, wondrously read, from the storyteller of Half-Life.

The cover of Skyboat Media’s audio edition of Underneath the Oversea.

I have been a Marc Laidlaw fan since his debut novel, Dad’s Nuke — an apocalyptic, madcap dark comedy/road-trip novel that anticipated Snow Crash and its motif of an America dominated by paranoid, fortresslike gated communities.

I avidly consumed all of his subsequent novels and short stories — especially “400 Boys,” his contribution to Bruce Sterling’s seminal cyberpunk anthology Mirrorshades.

Continue reading "Marc Laidlaw’s “Underneath the Oversea”"

Pluralistic: 20 Mar 2022

Today's links

Kathe Koja's Dark Factory: Taking Bohemia seriously.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 20 Mar 2022"

Pluralistic: 08 Mar 2022

Today's links

How and why to break up Big Tech: My new Locus column, "Vertically Challenged."
The Dawn of Everything: An essential reminder that we are in charge of our own destiny.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2007, 2012, 2017
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 08 Mar 2022"

Pluralistic: 08 Feb 2022

Today's links

Pixels of You: An illustrated tale of love and photos.
Wall Street's landlord business is turning every rental into a slum: And they're using public money to do it.
UK Tories want a national database of porn-viewing habits: Oh fuck not this bullshit again.
This day in history: 2002, 2012, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 08 Feb 2022"

Pluralistic: 06 Feb 2022

Today's links

Explaining UK Fair Dealing with Simpsons clips: An update to the classic "Fair(y) Use."
Woody Guthrie, Songs and Art * Words and Wisdom: 332 pages of inspiration, joy and fascinating tales of a true American hero.
This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 06 Feb 2022"

Pluralistic: 29 Jan 2022

Today's links

No, payday lenders aren't nice guys: Won't someone think of the poor usurers?
The Right to Repair: A stupendous new book on a very urgent subject.
This day in history: 2002, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 29 Jan 2022"

Pluralistic: 04 Jan 2022

Today's links

Science fiction is a Luddite literature: My latest column for Locus Magazine.
Neal Stephenson's 'Termination Shock': Geoengineering and the end of the world.
Stellar images of quack exercise machines: A memento mori for anyone flexing in lycra on a Peleton.
This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 04 Jan 2022"