Archive for May 2009
When you see your childhood, buy it.
You might not know it, but I’m a sentimental son of a bitch. Especially about my childhood. Not all of it, really. Actually I had a pretty fucked up childhood (Hi mom!), but there were certain things that gave me a lot of comfort, and one of them was Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. No surprise that the intensely miserable kid would glom onto a game that allowed him to live a happier, more fulfilling secret life, I guess, so there it is. I played a lot of D&D, but I really shouldn’t talk in the past tense. I still play D&D. But I guess in some ways I’m still that kid – not an uncommon feeling for the children of addicts, I’m told.
Links & Things
Interview with “Blood of Ambrose” author James Enge
Nick Owchar article on Solomon Kane and Robert E. Howard
Commentary from The Cimmerian on Nick Owchar’s take on “Solomon Kane”
Various and sundry points and provocations from The Crotchety Old SF Fan
Borders new (and frankly dubious, imho) plan to reduce debt
Is your book appropriate for my child?
Club reviews “Age of Misrule” by Mark Chadbourn
EW reviews Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s “The Strain”
Links and Things
New edition of Samuel Delaney’s “The Jewel-Hinged Jaw” now available
“The Means of Reproduction” author Michelle Goldberg on Bat Segundo
How Ursula K LeGuin led a generation away from realism
New Century, New Publisher for “Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”
China Mieville in the Wall Street Journal
The New England Review may fall on the chopping block soon.
Wolverine in 30 seconds
Cheerfully ganked from The Swivet.
Thanks, Gamestop!
Again, thanks to manager Kris and his district manager for straightening this entire thing out – Those of you visiting from The Consumerist should be happy to know that Gamestop was more than willing to issue the refund as requested, and the situation should never happen again.
The situation is completely resolved, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m utterly satisfied and have no problems with Gamestop or the fine staff at the Rankin Center store.
(see the dog? it’s a happy dog. happy happy happy).
No problems here. Comments off on this post, as I’m putting this thing to bed.
Classmates.com bringing Sleestak Back
Classmates.com is running a “Land of the Lost” contest for its members – participants can download LOTL wallpaper, befriend characters from the film, and enter into a drawing to win a trip to Universal Studios, Land of the Lost merchandise and advanced screenings of the film.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much the original series both excited and terrified me as a little boy. Even now I have a soft spot for those Sleestaks.
I hated high school with a passion – I would have preferred Sleestaks to most of my classmates – but those of you with happier memories of your early years (and a Classmates.com membership) might want to give this a shot.
Even if you’re not interested in the contest, feel free to discuss your high school experiences, memories of favorite childhood programs or pretty much anything else in the comments below. ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!
Contest boilerplate after the jump.
Links and Things
Fifteen influential early works of apocalyptic fiction (all pre-1945)
Spec fic authors write about the future depression in Harper’s
New fiction from Jeremiah Tolbert and more on the newest StarShipSofa!
“Touched by Evil” the darkness of Flannery O’Connor’s spiritual drama
Mind Meld: The perfect S/SF/H books to give to people who don’t usually read S/SF/H.
Details on new zombie anthology from St. Martin’s Press
New Brian Lumley Necroscope novella coming
Apparently you can publish your blog to Kindle now
Scholar denies the oral roots of fairy tales (via Cheryl’s Mewsings)
Bret Easton Ellis’ horror script heading into production
Edward Champion reviews the new Terminator film
Links and Things
Why fiction may be crucial to our evolution as a species
Christopher Miller’s five favorite books about imaginary authors
Is this the end of good non-fiction?
Review: Robert Silverberg: Other Spaces, Other Times.
Greg Van Eekhout at John Scalzi’s The Big Idea
A look back at Orson Scott Card’s “The Changed Man”
“Shelf Monkey” author Corey Redekop livens up a rainy day with the power of the force
John Klima: So You Want to Start a Zine…
Wondermark.com
You’ve got to check out Wondermark.com.
Brief update: Gamestop issue resolved
Issue resolved: finally got hold of their District Manager, who was glad to issue me a store credit or refund. 
I also got an opportunity to brag on the girl who helped me when I came in which was good.
