Monthly Archives: July 2014

No Culture But Our Own

Posted on July 31, 2014 by David

“[I]n the history of the world no culture but our own–and then only very recently–has chosen the path of pursuing the ideology of an infinite space-time that frames colossal cataclysmic events, with humanity relegated to the role of insignificant bystander.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotation | Tagged Anthony Aveni, Astronomy, Science, Stairways to the Stars | Leave a comment

Advice

Posted on July 30, 2014 by David

“Advice like: ‘Follow your heart!’ and “Be true to your vision!’ is fine if you’re in therapy. Me? I really want to improve my odds.” — Blake Snyder, Save the Cat!

Posted in Quotation | Tagged Blake Snyder, Dreams, Save the Cat!, Therapy, Writing | Leave a comment

Space Balrogs!

Posted on July 28, 2014 by David

So I’m one of the founders of a semi-interactive speculative fiction live performance troupe, the Space Balrogs. What does that mean? It means Zombie Rock Opera, it means Choose Your Own Apocalypse, it means Supervillain Idol — you know, science … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged Choose Your Own Apocalypse, Craig Nybo, David J. West, James Wymore, Jason King, Salt City Steamfest, SLC Comic Con, Space Balrogs, Supervillain Idol, Tree City Comic Con, Zombie Rock Opera | Leave a comment

Unicorns

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David

“Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things.” “Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?” “No, but I wonder if any man before us ever thought his … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotation | Tagged Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn | Leave a comment

Bookshelf: Hamlet’s Mill

Posted on July 23, 2014 by David

I’ve just finished re-reading Hamlet’s Mill, for the fourth time. That makes it the third-most-reread book in my library, I think, and the most-reread work of scholarly nonfiction. Hamlet’s Mill is about mythology. The authors argue that myth, and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Bookshelf | Tagged Astrology, Astronomy, Gilgamesh, Giorgio de Santillana, Hamlet, Hamlet's Mill, Hertha von Dechend, Myth, Mythology, Worldbuilding | Leave a comment

Bookshelf: Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings

Posted on July 19, 2014 by David

Here’s another one for you worldbuilders out there. I just re-read Charles Hapgood’s Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings. Depending on your perspective, this is either a persistent bit of quackery or a classic of alternate history. Me, I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bookshelf | Tagged Alternate History, Antarctica, Atlantis, Charles Hapgood, Mapmaking, Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings, Navigation, Pseudohistory | Leave a comment

Science fiction, when it is good

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David

“Science fiction, when it is good, is a wholly valid attempt at restoring a mythical element, with its adventures and tragedies, its meditations on man’s errors and man’s fate. For true tragedy is an essential component or outcome of myth.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotation | Tagged Giorgio de Santillana, Hamlet's Mill, Hertha von Dechend, Myth, Science Fiction | Leave a comment

Ancient Earth & Sky

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David

My friend John Lundwall has a couple of animated lectures posted on-line that deal with the astronomy and cosmology encoded in the mythology of oral societies. The lectures cover some of the same ground as John’s forthcoming book on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Astronomy, John Lundwall, Orality, Precession of the Equinoxes | Leave a comment

Westercon 67 (FantasyCon I)

Posted on July 6, 2014 by David

Every con starts like this. Every con ends like this, too. In between, the rooms fill up with people, stories, and performances. My performances started on Thursday with a brilliant and ambitious but ill-starred presentation on steampunk and audiobooks with … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventions | Tagged B. Daniel Blatt, Bear Putnam, Bob Defendi, Carter Reid, David J. West, Deanna Holland, Deena Campanile, Deren Hansen, Fantasycon, Filk, Graham Bradley, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Batchelor, James Wymore, Jason King, Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury, Kathy Mar, Kevin Anderson, Larry Correia, Lisa Mangum, Nathan Shumate, Peter S. Beagle, Peter Wacks, Rasputin, S.A. Butler, Sarah E. Seeley, Scott Taylor, Tom Durham, Vince Campanile, Westercon | Leave a comment

Westercon and Fantasycon ~ Thursday

Posted on July 3, 2014 by David

Team Look for me today at 1:00 in Deer Valley I and II at Westercon, talking with Deren Hansen about Orrin Porter Rockwell, Steampunk, and the making of audiobooks. Then I shuffle across the street to Fantasycon. At 3:00 I’ll … Continue reading →