Wayzgoose: Blog

When a fella shares the head of a single-minded obsessive writer like aroslav, getting the opportunity to do something creative is rare. Just look at his list of stories compared to mine! But I've managed to resurrect a couple of short essays from the early seventies to post as part of To Make a Long Story Short.

The two stories are "On Understanding Things" and "The Everett Method of Dog Training." The first does set some greater context for the second, but they are really independent. Just a couple of humorous incidents from our dark past.

Part of the reason for digging into the sixties and seventies has been because aroslav is still digging into that era for his "Photo Finish" series, and I got to go along to the 50-year class reunion at UIndy. I sat gentlemanly at the same table as my first ex-wife and her husband and we had a very cordial conversation. I married the first girl I met at UIndy. It was mostly good and I'm still quite fond of the memories.

That, simply to preface this next bit of news. I expect to get the long-awaited sequel (by those two who read the initial) of Steven George and The Dragon ready to release by the end of December. I'll be posting chapters of Steven George and the Terror to my Patreon patrons in parallel to the development of F/Stop in November. It gives my editors something to do while aroslav is writing and rewriting a sex scene.

So, for today, read the fresh shorts in To Make a Long Story Short, and then refresh your memory of the famous dragonslayer, Steven George. And watch out for the Terror!

While aroslav manages to capture the majority of our shared brain-space, I do still have a few stories to add to the collection, To Make a Long Story Short.

Remember 1984? It was the year that Steve Jobs told us why 1984 was not going to be like 1984. But I was looking out a long way past that to the age of intelligent machines and what happens when a computer becomes dangerous. Well, you can't call ghost busters!

More recently, aroslav revisited the issue of the dangerous AI in his 2021 story in the Swarm Cycle, The Assassin.

I wrote the story "I-DEX-308AI" to set up the situation of how to kill a computer. I was pretty pleased with it but when I submitted it to a SciFi magazine editor I got back the message that "computers taking over the world, blah, blah, blah. We've seen this cliche too many times and it will never be a thing." I've often wondered if that editor lived to see today. We're a few steps closer than we were back then. So, tell me why 2024 is not going to be like 1984.

I did some rewriting to add bits to my understanding of technology and forty years of world experience that has gone since then and now I present it to you all fresh and new: "I-DEX-308AI".

Digging around in the archives, I came up with another tidbit that tickled me. I filled in the empty spots where time and weather had eroded the writing and got this story/essay "Dream Home" written up. It was fun to remember that time back in 1976 when I made my first big move in life.

Well, most of this one is actually true. I still get a chuckle when I remember that trip. It's part of my collection: To Make a Long Story Short.

In other news, not much happening here in Las Vegas today. Apparently, there is some big sport ball game that filled the local rooms, but I don't think it's even here in town. Maybe I'll use this time while things are quiet to go get some groceries.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against sports, but I never did get into hockey that much. Now high school and college girls' basketball still get my motor running. I've been following one high school team and one college team, and each just sewed up their conference championship. That was exciting. Next week the state regional competitions start for high school. The following week, while I'm glued to the State Championships, the American Rivers Conference tournament for Division III schools will start. I can just imagine how much I'm not going to get done next week.

I'm adjusting to a noisy life. I recently got hearing aids and I have to tell you, I had no idea how noisy you all are! I keep turning them down, so I don't feel like I'm living inside a radio sound effects booth. Need footsteps? Clomp clomp clomp. Pouring a glass of water? Glug glug glug. Pissing in the toilet? OMG!

I can feel another essay coming on!

Well, enjoy your holiday if you celebrate one this week. I saw The Grass Roots perform this week and as Mark Dawson (the group's front man since 2008) said:
"Professional tip for you guys out there. It is not okay to repurpose Super Bowl snacks into Valentine's dinner."

I don't know. Snacks are the best part of those events.

Well, groceries are calling. Which means I need to get dressed. And it's only like half past noon.

Enjoy your week!

This morning, I've posted another short story in the collection To Make a Long Story Short. This golden oldie comes from 1969, when I was first attempting to become a 'serious writer of fiction.' I had several good models for my work. I remember being into various Russian authors and into the literary fiction published by such renowned magazines as The Atlantic Monthly.

Dear Dr. Kellogg, chairman of the English Department, kindly read "Twenty Years is Better" and told me he didn't think it was quite ready for The Atlantic Monthly, but after I retyped it, I sent it anyway. They were not quite as kindly in their rejection. I chalked it up to not having sent out enough queries.

Well, it languished in the archives for forty-two years, but I've pulled it out, retyped it, corrected the most egregious errors, and exposed it to sunlight again. I have to say, it's still not ready for The Atlantic Monthly, but the story has lasted longer than the magazine. A descendant of the magazine is around, but they no longer publish short stories. I'd like to think it's because they didn't publish mine. The term "cringe-worthy" comes to mind.

I have several more stories in the archives that I'll be dusting off this year, including more ultra-shorts, some pretty decent fiction, and a few moldy, oldies. Enjoy!

We passed the winter solstice about 7:30 this morning on the US West Coast, but we're celebrating tonight. I've joined my ex-wife and step-husband to get things ready and have a small group hosted by my daughter and her new husband for dinner.

We've celebrated solstice for many years. My daughter's almost 30 and she's been raised in the tradition. I was thrilled to hear her say she wanted to host solstice celebration and invite a couple of friends and her husband's brother and SIL. She wanted me to come up to Seattle to tell the story and conduct the rituals. I'm so looking forward to tonight and have the joy of my daughter carrying on our tradition.

So, if you don't have a tradition of your own, you can always join us by simply asking three questions and answering them. My answers follow each question.

1. What do you want to leave behind from this year (and never think of again)?

That is a fairly easy question for me. I had my second heart ablation in February and I’m done with it. Haven’t had a bad flutter since. I hope I’m joining many others worldwide who are ready to leave illness, disease, and sickness of mind and body behind.

2. What do you want to be remembered from this year?

That, too, is an easy one for me. The family and friends celebrated a joyful occasion this summer as my daughter got married. I am so happy to see the amazing young woman she has grown into and to welcome a fine son-in-law to the family. I love them to bursting!

3. What are your hopes for the year to come?

Well, that one is always a tough one for me. Selfishly? I’d like a couple of new books to break old sales records. I’ll be happy, however, to see a year of friends and family, safe travels, and good health. It doesn’t really take that much to make me happy.

Whatever winter holidays you are celebrating this month, I hope you have a joyous time and that your own answers to the above questions prove positive.
Wayzgoose