a sickly moment of dark surprise

[greygirlbeast]

Yesterday, I wrote 822 words on "Some Notes on an Unfinished Film," which is becoming quite interesting. But now I have to set it aside and go back to work on The Red Tree. The story will still be there later this month. I might have time to finish it for Sirenia Digest #34, maybe. If not, it will likely show up in the October issue. Vince and I have agreed to do something very different this month. Usually, I write a story or vignette and send it to him to illustrate. This month, however, he's going to do a drawing, and then send it to me, at which point I'll write a story based in it. Look for the result of this experiment in Sirenia Digest #34, later this month.

Sorry, no pretty photos of the seashore today. Today, all you get is me.

I forgot to mention that Not One of Us will be reprinting "Flotsam" in an upcoming issue. October, I think.

Last night, Spooky sold the Palaeozoic Museum in New Babbage (SL) for me. It has left a weird, sad feeling. On the one hand, I'm glad it won't be torn down. It's been there for over a year (which is probably ten years in SL time), and one of the things that New Babbage (and all of SL) suffers from is a lack of place-identity, which is aggravated by an absence of history, a paucity of sense of self and place. I am grateful to the buyer, who desires only to preserve the structure. On the other hand, well, maybe there is no other hand. I will be keeping the Abney Park laboratory in New Babbage, but most of my SL attention has to be focused now on Howards End, both the build and the roleplay.

My thanks to the people who've taken the time to comment on the latest issue of the digest, and I'm quite pleased that the reaction to "The Z Word" has been so positive, and that people seem to have enjoyed the interview with (and artwork by) Max Sauco.

Not much else to say about yesterday, really. Spooky made corn on the cob and beef stroganoff for dinner. I had another go at EVE, but I think I've decided that it really is too absurdly complicated, and commerce obsessed, and I'm not up to investing so much time and energy in a game, no matter how pretty it might be. I read "A new species of Velociraptor [Dinosauria; Theropoda] from the Upper Cretaceous of northern China" in the newest JVP. That was about it for last night.

If you have not already, please do pick up a copy of the mass-market paperback of Daughter of Hounds. The actual release date was yesterday, and I completely forgot. Anyway, now all my novels (except The Five of Cups, thank fuck) are available in inexpensive mmp editions. Also, if you have not yet pre-ordered A is for Alien, there's no time like the present.

And now, I need more coffee....

Comments

[thingunderthest.livejournal.com]

I really should give second life another look with my new computer setup.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I really should give second life another look with my new computer setup.

Indeed, you should.

Sirenia #33

[cliff52.livejournal.com]

I'll echo the positive comments about "The Z Word." I love the intelligent, planning zombies, a new horror to worry about in the dark and during thunderstorms. The planned fate of the remaining living is most chilling. But the magic of #33 is the power of combination of story, artwork, interview, photos, and excerpt is quite powerful.
I'd love a sketch of Madam Mnemosyne and the little ones to go along with the one in my head!

Re: Sirenia #33

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

The planned fate of the remaining living is most chilling.

It's one of those things that seemed so obvious to me, and I can't, offhand, think of it having been done before. Except, perhaps, in Matheson's I Am Legend, but those weren't zombies.

But the magic of #33 is the power of combination of story, artwork, interview, photos, and excerpt is quite powerful.

Cool. Yeah, I've been hoping that adding the artist/photographer interview feature is really bringing something new.

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

I forgot to mention that Not One of Us will be reprinting "Flotsam" in an upcoming issue. October, I think.


Oh excellent! One of my stories will be there as well! It's nice to know it will be in such good company.

[sovay]

This month, however, he's going to do a drawing, and then send it to me, at which point I'll write a story based in it.

Awesome. I look forward.

[timesygn.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for re-sending Issue #33 of SIRNEIA DIGEST; your understanding much appreciated.

You wrote:

"Yesterday, I wrote 822 words on 'Some Notes on an Unfinished Film,' which is becoming quite interesting ... "

This planned story really does sound very intriguing (- as does the "write from a picture" project you have planned with Mr. Locke for next issue; see Harlan's "Rock God" for finished results of a similar approach).

As regards "Unfinished Film," however, the recent discovery of some lost Marilyn Monroe footage might prove of interest to you:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/09/03/simpson.monroe.film.itn

Regards ...

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

This planned story really does sound very intriguing (- as does the "write from a picture" project you have planned with Mr. Locke for next issue; see Harlan's "Rock God" for finished results of a similar approach).

As I say below, it's really not like I haven't been doing quite a bit of this already (just not with a drawing done specifically to inspire to inspire me). I am glad people are excited about it.

As regards "Unfinished Film," however, the recent discovery of some lost Marilyn Monroe footage might prove of interest to you:

Cool! Thanks.

#33

[whiskeychick.livejournal.com]

Loved "The Z Word!" The thinking zombies juxtaposed to the absurdity of non-stop ABBA listening was keen. And the artwork is fabu, of course!

I'm holding off on the second story to read until after I finish reading "Daughter of Hounds" which arrived yesterday -- spot on!

I started devouring last night until my personal muse took over until sleep occurred. It's neglect will be remedied tonight.

Looking forward to the #34 experiment.

Re: #33

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I'm holding off on the second story to read until after I finish reading "Daughter of Hounds" which arrived yesterday -- spot on!

Thank you! For buying the mmp, I mean.

[c0rporatetrash.livejournal.com]

This month, however, he's going to do a drawing, and then send it to me, at which point I'll write a story based in it.

So basically you'll be doing a picture prompt? Who knew silly high school writing techniques would actually come into practice one day...

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

So basically you'll be doing a picture prompt?

Well, I've never heard this phrase before, but yes, I suppose it will be a story prompted by a picture. Truthfully, the pieces in Sirenia Digest often come about this way, it's just that usually the artist is some Pre-Raphaelite or Symbolist painter.

Sirenia Digest 33

[sa-jathan.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry but I couldn't help but be skeptical about zombies and ABBA. Probably because it is difficult for me to think of the musical taffy and pastels of ABBA (a guilty pleasure in college) in conjunction with world apocalypse. But, yes, "The Z Word" works. I got from it what I wanted, the same thing I got from Robert McCammon's "Eat Me" (BOOK OF THE DEAD I) which actually brought me to tears -- a sense of loss. All other supernatural creatures seem to gain something in their transformation (though I'm not familiar with every tale told). Zombies seem to lose everything save a continued "existence." It's not deep, and I own it, but it's what I prefer, and "The Z Word" delivered.

Max Sauco's work is amazing, at first glance unnerving, then even more unsettling to return and examine the details. This additional section to the Digest has made the last two issues even more spectacular.

I also greatly enjoyed the excised framing of DAUGHTER OF HOUNDS. I was really looking forward to this in the issue. It seems to present a softer (more comical?) stance than the novel does, perhaps because of the primary characters involved. While it added some interesting depth to the warren inhabitants, I thought the novel had a more vicious bite as published. It was wonderful to be able read this. Thank you for including it.

Re: Sirenia Digest 33

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

. All other supernatural creatures seem to gain something in their transformation (though I'm not familiar with every tale told). Zombies seem to lose everything save a continued "existence."

That is an interesting thought...

Things I'd like to last longer.

[smallpinkfish.livejournal.com]

I liked Five of Cups. You don't have any intention of re-releasing any other books (Murder of Angels, Threshold or Dry Salvages) in hardback by any chance? or know where it might be possible to procure a copy of said magnificent books?

[jacobluest.livejournal.com]

Oh blast. And here I was about to pick up EVE myself. I just can't resist the idea of an army of drones littered against the sky, lasers winking as I sit back gobbling precious minerals off derelict space stations and asteroids...

~Jacob

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Oh blast. And here I was about to pick up EVE myself. I just can't resist the idea of an army of drones littered against the sky, lasers winking as I sit back gobbling precious minerals off derelict space stations and asteroids...

It's not that it's bad game (though I would argue it focuses on the wrong things). It's actually quite a good game. But when my 147 IQ is straining at the learning curve, it usually means my time is better spent elsewhere. I just cannot believe the time people sink into the tedium of the game.

[jacobluest.livejournal.com]

Oh come on, the SF banker MMORPG is undercut far too often in this post-capitalistic, post-materialistic, post-9/11 world.

The genius of the game arises entirely from the ingenuity of its player-base. Like you, I think too much (90%? 95%) of what the game brings to the table is caught up in economics. The writing is TERRIBLE. Like that quest you do for a black man running security, and the acceptance dialogue is "Sure can! My granny didn't raise no fool!"

...

The last thing I'll say of it: EVE is the only game I've seen where the actual structure of the data housed in the server and subsequent processes to access it for the MMORPG are embodied in the game itself. Which is cool and lame in the same breath.

Ok, done.

~Jacob

[cillygirl.livejournal.com]

EVE is fantastically deep, and involving, and gives rise to some amazing stories. It's also pretty time consuming and the people who play can be very annoying. There's very little actual homophobia directed at people - far less than WoW, say - but most of the PvPers and veterans, the people who actually wield power in the universe, use homophobic language to denigrate people. It's some sort of performance of masculinity or cultural thing, but it's still pretty wearing.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

EVE is fantastically deep, and involving, and gives rise to some amazing stories.

No doubt. I certainly see that potential.

It's also pretty time consuming and the people who play can be very annoying.

And I see that, as well.

but most of the PvPers and veterans, the people who actually wield power in the universe, use homophobic language to denigrate people. It's some sort of performance of masculinity or cultural thing, but it's still pretty wearing.

I'd only seen a very little of this, but knowing there's more of it out there makes me want to stay far away from the game for good.

And let GLAAD know....

Sirenia #33

[madrial.livejournal.com]

You have a wonderful way of evoking imagery; which may or may not be good when I can feel the heat of the approaching fire. Not being an ABBA fan I thought I would dislike 'The Z Word', but it interlinked so well and perfectly combined darkness and comedy. The lost exert from 'Daughters of Hounds' was so real and I loved being able to read more of their world.

Re: Sirenia #33

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I loved being able to read more of their world.

I'm glad. I really wasn't sure about including that piece.

[smallpinkfish.livejournal.com]

That's Kind of what I thought about those books although it's good to hear that about Dry Salvages, but as far as The five of cups (that's Disappointment right?)I guess you have the right to be your own roughest critic. I'm not super big on vampire novels, but it is the only one apart from Lost Souls that I have ever been able to read in it's entirety (and like), and while I loved Poppy's Characters and the New Orleans it was set in, Your book struck me as slightly more realistic because it seems like it wouldn't be all that fun or sexy to NEED to kill people constantly, and it would definately get lonely and even pain-full. Blah-blah blah.