Roll Calls for 7.28.2011-8.11.2011

Posted on 22 August, 2011 by Myseri

Thursday Tales 7.28.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 10, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
This episode focuses on Tara’s attempted muggers, the modrpunks. The plague continues to ravage the City’s lower orders, and Bruce’s condition worsens due to corrupted nannites. Believing an illegal A.I. was protecting Tara’s encrypted file, Carl describes to Genie the vision of a mesopotamian-style cherubim – guardians of sacred precincts. A “Mr Smith” is mentioned as a contact, but the modrpunks think he will not help. Genie is ready to abandon Bruce, as taking him to hospital will only cause more trouble for all three of them.
- Quango-Baud

They DO Exist, Moxie6
Everyone loves Oompa Loompas. Hush, you love them and you know it. They had orange skin before Jersey Shore made it a thing, an unbeatable work ethic… And they might not be as fictitious as you think. Moxie6 has some photographic evidence you need to see to believe.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Bridge Builder, Chapter 53: Allies, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
Alex is troubled by the execution of his attacker, regretting any loss of life. At the induction party, matronly Zsehn assures Alex that his misfortune of being stabbed probably saved several people close to the Royal Family. The House of Sorenson now established amongst the Tslao, Alex is bemused by Neya assuming Carbon’s role; she even takes his arm. Carbon awaits Alex in their Tslao-homestyle quarters; she worries Alex is wary of the marriage foisted upon them by her aunt – the Empress, but Alex assures Carbon that his commitment is heartfelt.
- Quango-Baud

In My Mind… (Chapter 11), theTummy
Evan’s new life is full of unexpected pains, a body that doesn’t feel quite like his own, and surprisingly nice quarters (even if there aren’t any windows). What he wants is answers. What he gets is a schedule and a warning.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Harlequinade, WinnieTheWoot
Every night the desk clerk at the hotel watches the clockwork harlequin and ballerina dance. It might be beautiful if it ended there. But the dance is always interrupted and the ballerina always lies hurt on the floor before she disappears again. This is a tale full of atmosphere and great suspense and hopefully is only the beginning of the story.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Saturday Short Stories 7.30.2011

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 11, Myseri
Graham has found a pleasure that gives a spark to his dark soul. Burning churches. Still the leader of an army, especially an army at war, has many responsibilities. Once the fun is over he has to consider the problem of troop discipline. But how do you discipline a soldier if you already control her mind?
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Puppethead War Issue 11: Concerned Visitor, now4the_post
Talon, Verden and the rest of the crew have finally reached the capitol city, Carpol. It’ll be no problem getting an audience with the Overarchy with a dire warning about the return of body-swapping puppetheads to deliver. It wouldn’t be if someone thought that they were important, anyway. At least Verden is expected and warmly met by other Keepers, already preparing for what the puppethead return might herald.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Thursday Tales 8.4.2011

Welcome to the Ninerverse, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
You’ll find all sorts of people in the Nines. Some of them are sure to be nobodies who just want to be somebody, even if it’s just in a detailed virtual reality bar. Some of them might be a bit more notorious and just looking for a place to unwind. Take a guess at which group The Scarlet Slash at her crew fit into.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Caught at the Nines, now4the_post
A detective investigates a crime in “real-life” but hunts suspects in a virtual world – the shared space of io9 contributors. Public detective Norian Osthorpe tracks Roody569 to a chatroom bar where the architecture is as improbable as the user-avatars. All the data and deduction points to Roody569 but it seems that even the dodgiest of characters can be the victim of identify theft.
- Quango-Baud

Bridge Builder, chapter 54: Rituals, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
The alien wedding involved mind invasion and peircing and was followed by an assination attempt. Alex is hoping the consummation is something a little more traditional.
- Bamf.to.NYC

“In My Mind…” Chapter 12, theTummy
Loss of cognitive function is expected after an extended period of coma, but Evan is still able to recognize that a visitor has an attractive shape. Talkative Mouse mentions “down-time”, ops and survival. She says she sensed a “Void” believing that Evan was a “Sink”, but – now having met him – she describes him as having great, hidden power. Evan’s sense of alienation is enforced by the mysterious nature of the Association; the organization that has taken him in.
- Quango-Baud

Murder On Deck 36 – Chapter Two, Zuldim
Ryan’s captain has his own theories about the murder and the motives and declares the case closed. But when a late night visitor warns Ryan off the case too it only makes him more determined to solve the mystery.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Saturday Short Stories 8.6.2011

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 12, Myseri
For the survivors, life goes on in every way. Kyle is still a growing boy and everyone is wearing down their clothes, slowly but surely. Aubrey has a solution – a nearby town that appears to be deserted. Whether the people who lived there died in the catastrophe or just moved on afterwards, there’s likely to be plenty of abandoned clothing, maybe even other supplies… that is, of course, if it’s actually been abandoned.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

You’re doing it!, Noise
There’s no room for argument with General Henderson, especially when he’s your uncle. Marcus grudgingly submits to an advanced surgical procedure for an intel gathering mission in Noise’s first foray into the Ninerverse.
- Bismod

The Puppethead War Issue 12: One Untangle, Two Untangle…, now4the_post
The strands of the Puppethead War are threading together. In the village of Yerz, a decisive moment happens with Daiv amongst the Puppetheads. In the city of Carpol, Talon’s group argue but make progress in meeting the authorities. Nairé talks with Irena about her heritage. And, Ogard is reunited with Leyh having survived an ambush. Yet, other undeclared forces are on the move.
- Quango-Baud

Thursday Tales 8.11.2011

Cloud Nine, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
In this tale of the ninerverse we encounter a crew on a mission. Well, two missions. One calls for some improvisation when the target is nowhere to be found and the other calls for a little finesse. Extracting data from a would-be assassin is a tricky business, even in the cyber world.
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Test, bjeffreyvidt
In a royal palace, in another time, in another place, knight-in-training Tydus recounts to Madam Sarai a story of failed courage; Tydus is further shamed by the truth behind his moment of weakness. Later, Master Gaemon tries to meditate in the courtyard but is interrupted by noise from a royal chamber; he charges to his duty, blaming himself for his spiritual self-indulgence.
- Quango-Baud

Four Ridiculous TV Crossover Ideas, Moxie6
Are people in TV shows merely characters? Or is there a deeper truth beyond that which we see? Is there really an actress called Whoopi Goldberg? Or, is she actually Guinan of El-Auria? Moxie6 brings to our attention the interconnectedness of all things, but especially between TV show characters.
- Quango-Baud

Bridge Builder, Chapter 55: Preparation, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
After the wedding night, with its very unexpected Tslao custom, Alex is awoken when Neya visits. She and Carbon chat away privately, leaving Alex in the dark as he contemplates the complicated, and probably very awkward, effects their royal marriage will have.
- Bismod

In My Mind…” Chapter 13, theTummy
Evan is adjusting to his new life in the Association, starting to understand how his life is going to be now with the help of Mouse’s tutelage. Technology has changed quite a bit and he’s got a busy day ahead of him… At least he’s meeting people who are friendly now.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Welcome to Modernity, John Wiswell
John Wiswell is a master at meta fiction and this story is no exception. Some people are heroes, some are villains. Some people are just stuck in the background…
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, Base9, niners, roll call | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 7.7.2011-7.16.2011

Posted on 21 July, 2011 by Myseri

Thursday Tales 7.7.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 8, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
Still shaken by her mugging and news of deadly glitches, Tara returns home, but not entirely empty-handed. With the aid of an old, but significant, book she is finally able to decode the mysterious message, which reveals that danger is a lot closer to home than even the Goldbergs had anticipated.
- Bismod

The Long War part 6, Ghost_in_the_Machine
Peter Rudko wakes up from his shared dream with a flood of memories from another life. Will this knowledge of old battle tactics and world politics help him win the war? And what does the alien have to gain from the outcome?
- Bamf.to.NYC

TSF Chapter 5: A Day in the life, Myseri
Serial Murderers don’t kill to escape mundane lives, they use a mundane guise to take lives. Vacation over, Thomson’s work-day breakfast is interrupted by a call from his forgetful boss: At work, where he is IT Support, Thomson deals with a small problem grown huge; his boss’s laptop has not had any maintenance including anti-virus updates for months. Returning home, Thomson has new horrors ready for his take-home project.
- Quango-Baud

Ongoing Adventures Issue 2: The Plan, now4the_post
Magic mirrors and body swaps are just the beginning of the trouble for a group of comrades separated on their journey. With everyone looking for the same pieces of a mystic mirror and the difficulty of telling friend from foe this is bound to be a wild ride.
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Puppethead War Issue 8: Up in the World, now4the_post
Far from the violence of the lake, we return to Irena, whose nightmares are worsening. Not even her new life of wealth and status seems to calm her nerves. She begins to find solace speaking with Naire, a woman watching over the girl, who also suffers sleepless nights as she dreams of her troubled past.
- Bismod

Bridge Builder, Chapter 50: Spare Parts, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
The newly appointed Lord Alex Sorenson awakens to find himself drugged but alive. Refraining from calling Lord Alex by his preferred title of “Just Alex”; an alien attendant fills in the details after the attempted assassination that left Alex stabbed and Tashen beaten; their attacker remains on the loose. The “Spare Parts” of the title become clear by episode’s end; leading to another Shini R.O.A.C.H. “ouch” moment.
- Quango-Baud

Own’d by the Devil, John Wiswell
It’s easy for a gamer to understand Haley’s surprise, easy for anyone who has unexpectedly lost. He’s just bet a little more than most people would…
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Saturday Short Stories 7.9.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 32, Bamf.to.NYC
In the final installment of Telepaths, the dust has started to settle from the Park Slope case. Maggie is staying busy with a new class of telepath agents as she waits for a particular question from Elise. It’s not in the cards for that just yet as she’s unexpectedly called out to work a hostage situation, but at least she is getting a handle on the serial killer in her brain.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 8, Myseri
One of the group is lost, not to Graham and the violence of the Others, but to hope and an impulsive plan. Now it’s up to Zach to tell the group and deal with his own guilt. This installment shows a solid core to the survivors who must prepare to fight when the winter ends.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Thursday Tales 7.14.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 9, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
The day had started out so well. Tara had been running late, until she found out she was getting a promotion. A side trip to get new hardware went south as a gang attacked her, though she was rescued with no severe injuries. Now, she’s alone again and finding out that incident may have terrible consequences.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

How to Urban Fantasy Up Your Life, Moxie6
You’ve got your improbably tight leather pants, your werewolf repellent and your two paramours. But it takes more than that to be an urban fantasy heroine! This handy guide will show you all the tricks of the magic trade.
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Puppethead War Issue 9: Up in the World (part 2), now4the_post
Just after Irena de Postrem’s parents depart an urgent message arrives for Captain Gelba. Irena can’t help but listen in on things not meant for her ears, news of strange affairs abroad and shockingly close to home.
- Bismod

Bridge Builder, chapter 51: Fixer Upper, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
The attack on Alex is described to the Terran authorities as an accident; Carbon has been away bartering for suitable med-tech, as Tslao tech is not wholly compatible with human anatomy. The Terrans are not eager to provide advanced med-tech; yet Carbon proves to be a tough negotiator, bluffing by demanding the return of Tslao “waverider” technology. Still recuperating, Alex has been reading about his hosts’ history; chosen by Tslao Empress Eleya, the books are only about civil matters. A visit from Carbon lifts Alex’s spirits.- Quango-Baud

“In my mind…” Chapter 9, theTummy
Evan has a checkered past. As a young man he had a hard time with anger and depression, something that hasn’t changed after a decade in a coma. He’s now been accepted in to the Association, for better or worse… considering how eager one of his new colleagues is to test him, probably worse.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

They Miss Him, John Wiswell
A beautifully written story of a boy and the ever-changing technology that surrounds and sustains his life.
- Bismod

Murder On Deck 36 – Introduction and Chapter One, Zuldim
Police Detective Ryan North investigates the killing of Dr Evan Taylor on the Intergalactic Empire’s Star-Station “Hope” orbiting an unnamed star. The Empire is merely a brand created by a corporation; owner of these “tin cans” filled with a humanity that has fled a used-world. Solar-collectors top the station, a person’s status descends down two hundred levels, until you arrive at the sunward engines: environmental controls are failing on lower decks and crime is rife. Violent death is not unusual here, but this death raises many questions: Why was he murdered; How was he murdered; and who was Evan Taylor?
- Quango-Baud

Saturday Short Stories 7.16.2011

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 9, Myseri
This chapter of Myseri’s post-apocalyptic tale brings us back to Sam, alone again on the road. He’s lost Gina and is confronted by her killer, one of the Others. One that somehow can talk and plead and cry. And just maybe give him the clue that will help him find his friends.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, Base9, roll call | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 6.30.2011-7.2.2011

Posted on 8 July, 2011 by Myseri

Ghosts, aliens and creatures we only thought we knew abound in a week of ongoing series, hilarious shorts and an original contributor returned. Let the reading (and commenting) commence!

Thursday Tales 6.30.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 7, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
Tara recounts being mugged by the modrpunks and their stinging nannites and the Goldbergs warn her of dangers she hadn’t even imagined, all over chicken soup and sweet tea.
- Bismod

Dive, now4the_post
There are worlds in each of us. The thief takes them. Without these mental landscapes, it’s victims are left in a coma. Only a small band of rebels and a mysterious entity take a stand against it.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Ongoing Adventures Issue 1: New Paradigm, now4the_post
An introduction points the reader to “In Defence of the Realm” and “Search for Dastardly”, as this saga begins. In this chapter, the characters are confused: heroes and villains have lost their memories; however, “Dastardly” retains some memory but now has a new body; their need to recover their identities should help new readers follow the continuing story.
- Quango-Baud

Bridge Builder, Chapter 49: Hurt, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
After a shotgun wedding officiated by a violent alien empress how can Alex’s day get any worse? He could spend the rest of it searching for his angry new bride, get a dose of complicated family dynamics, and the distinct impression that no one is impressed that the heir to the throne is now married to a human.
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Stork Option, John Wiswell
A special service cuts out the mess (and pain) of child-birth leaving only a tiny chance of birth defects due to recessive DNA. Published by Weird Tales, this short is presented as a YouTube video with changing screen text and soundtrack.
- Quango-Baud

Saturday Short Stories 7.2.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 31, Bamf.to.NYC
Andrew pays a visit to his friend in the lab, now in a coma after she attacked a doctor. Tensions run high as he meets with his boss and is given another assignment. The meeting doesn’t go exactly as planned, his request for a government-mandated sabbatical is turned down and it’s made clear that he’s in too deep to just resign from his job. Not to say that Andrew doesn’t have a little leverage in this situation, there are a lot of people who would love to know about the illegal lab in the basement.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Living In The House of the Dead, Bookwench
There are many things people fear in the House of the Dead, but to Martin it’s just home. Each member of the family has their job in ushering departed souls onward. It a nice life where his biggest worry getting along with his peers. Until the day his father shows up at his school. What could upset the gatekeeper of the dead? Bookwench’s latest tale is a wonderful mix of light and dark that will leave you wanting to know everything about the world she’s created.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 5, Myseri
Defying Peter’s warning of caution, Chris steals a horse and rides off in the middle of the night. Zachariah quickly rides after him, hoping to prevent an impatient mistake that could get people killed.
- Bismod

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, niners, roll call | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 6.9.2011-6.25.2011

Posted on 30 June, 2011 by Myseri

This is a big one. Three weeks worth of tech, battles, aliens and a vampire.

Thursday Tales 6.9.2011

Ancestors, Pt.3, bjeffreyvidt
Emith shows his new work to his far more successful brother, Charles. Right away, the critique becomes personal, leaving Emith a wreck. At his wit’s end, he goes to his mother for guidance and she presents him with an inspiring, and rather revealing, family treasure.
- Bismod

The stag who wore a greatcoat had some peculiar opinions, Annalee Newitz
Altered to eloquent sentience, a stag discusses life after war; having taken to gentlemanly pursuits, and even choosing a profession as court advocate. These veterans & experimentees face a question over the very nature of their nature; In their world, how do you define Humanity? Are they Blessed or are they Beasts?
- Quango-Baud

Bridge Builder, Chapter 46: Grilled, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
What is so scary about meeting potential in-laws? Aboard a Tslao military carrier, Alex & Carbon prepare to meet Empress Etia: There is tension between the two thanks to the revelation of Carbon’s royal status. Alex is intimidated by having to meet the Empress in private. As Carbon’s Aunt, Etia’s questions will have the best of intentions. And as Empress, Etia will be mindful of her people’s interests. So … this could be very, very bad for Alex.
- Quango-Baud

Let Another One In, John Wiswell
There’s only one house on the block without a crucifix on the door and the sun is coming up. What will a vampire barter to save his life? Cash, sure. The iPhone, maybe. Jewelry might be where he has to draw the line. John Wiswell offers a hilarious look into the lives of the undead.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Saturday Short Stories 6.11.2011

The Long War part 4, Ghost_in_the_Machine
Captain Radko and his men are back on the front lines to put their training to use. Things go well – the enemy is unprepared for their new tactics and they push through the Brown’s line with little trouble. Perhaps they go too well, as Radko soon finds his company cut off from reinforcements in a village deep in enemy territory. They hold the village at a terrible cost but Radko gets a glimpse of what is creating the world they fight in.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Thursday Tales 6.16.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 6, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
Getting mugged for your nannites is bad. It’s worse when you don’t have any. Tara wakes up in a strange place full of sunlight with the world’s worst hangover. But it might be worth it if it gets her the key to opening a mysterious encrypted file.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Steve Returns, Myseri
Jonathan Martin’s favorite demon shows up out of the blue, apparently back from the beach. What’s more surprising than a red demon with a sunburn is the fact that his going on break was meant to help the author out, and the hilarious reason his plan backfired.
- Bismod

The Puppethead War Issue 7, now4the_post
Going along with Laryet’s ruse of not swapping minds; Daiv travels back to the lake surface with the Puppetheads’s stolen-human invasion party aboard the “Grape” (a Quandu diving-bell) with their Commander, Mr Sasket. The group reveal Quandomen personality, as they “vent” about the war and about their commander who they respect and fear. “The Puppethead Saga” seems set on an Earth that has seen past contact with aliens and is now in a period of medieval-like stability.
- Quango-Baud

Plastic World, quango-baud
A rarity this week. We don’t often get poetry, but quango-baud brings a dark rhyme that speaks of a polluted world. It’s questionable caretakers are there, proud but focused on their own desires.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Bridge Builder, Chapter 47: Welcome Home, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
Alex returns to consciousness and to the painful reality of his mind being ransacked by the Tslao Empress, not that this sort of thing hasn’t happened before under less hostile circumstances. This assault reveals a dire threat to the human pilot, with curious implications for Carbon as well.
- Bismod

Blurbs for the Greatest Book Never Written, John Wiswell
This tale is another cunningly constructed comedy from Wiswell. Even the greatest book in the world would still need ringing endorsements and blurbs to sell it. One of my favorites: “Breaking News: Library of Congress to receive one more book, then close permanently. Quote: ‘Danni La Paglia has finished literature. English is now complete.’”
- Bamf.to.NYC

Saturday Short Stories 6.18.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 30, Bamf.to.NYC
Elise, Maggie and Carl are running out of time to link Steadman to the kidnappings at Park Slope. It’s not the best time for Carl to be going through a divorce, but he soldiers on when Elise hits on an angle that blows the case wide open. They rush to get the information out to the government in a race against the clock before Steadman can disappear again.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

An Introduction to Enemies, Noise
This tale is a chapter in a longer piece. In it we meet Ral, forced to give his leader the news that while they have thirty days left to travel there is only enough food and water on the ship for twenty. He offers a solution that could make or break the fight to come and his own prospects as well. So, no pressure.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Thursday Tales 6.23.2011

The Long War – Part 5, Ghost_in_the_Machine
After telling Olga about the strange things he saw when he almost died, Rudko contemplates a risky maneuver. Soon, the two of them meet again in a shared dream and the truth behind the war is revealed, but is this yet another deception?
- Bismod

The Slow Gun, MaxConnell
How does a completely un-remarkable person become the most talked about person on Earth? In a world obsessed with celebrity, the ultimate reality show format is created. Michael Neil Smith is selected by voluntary lottery to be the victim of a weapon possessing a targeting system entangled to one individual person, but the time it takes for that bullet to reach its victim is completely uncertain. In the tradition of mid-C20th speculative writers, io9er MaxConnell takes us to the outer limits reached by Serling, Silverberg, Dahl and Moore.
- Quango-Baud

Bridge Builder, Chapter 48: Clarification, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
A mortified Carbon confronts her aunt over what she has done to Alex, and subsequently, herself. The empress reveals her simple motive to the human, and why he is so valuable to her needs.
- Bismod

Mate, John Wiswell
The distant past, the far future; around the block or a different planet… No matter where you go or who you talk to, guys never change.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Saturday Short Stories 6.25.2011

Hollow World Book 2: Chapter 6, Myseri
A quiet morning on the farm is broken by something impossible. A running car. Running but not exploding. Does this mean that they can drive again? Or will a spark of hope destroy them? Tempers flare and confusion rules in this installment of Myseri’s post-apocalyptic vision.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, roll call | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 6.2.2011-6.4.2011

Posted on 30 June, 2011 by Myseri

It’s time for shorts, ongoing tales and a few surprises. You guessed it, it’s Roll Call time!

Thursday Tales 6.2.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 5, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
After the failed attempt to harvest “beauty nannites” from Tara, she remains unconscious as the modrpunks try to access her encrypted info; they unwittingly unleash holographic security_daemons embedded in Sonja Fennelweigh’s files. These protocols alert City Paramedics to come to Tara’s aid. A surprising, hi-density composition package from archnemesis_goldenhair’s “City of Walls”.
- Quango-Baud

The Puppethead War #5, now4the_post
Daiv and Roran cautiously search the smoldering remains of the Village on the Lake for survivors, but how can they fight an enemy that resides in the bodies of the people they hope to save? Meanwhile, Darrin Sasket reveals his true colors.
- Bismod

Bridge Builder, Chapter 45: Surprise, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
Alex is spending his R&R getting used to his new implants and visiting his family. The visit takes a unexpected turn when Carbon and a bodyguard show up in his mother’s living room. But the biggest surprise of the day is still to come. This is a pivotal installment in the series with a twist that could change everything.
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Athenaists, John Wiswell
How important is a single letter? Does it really matter that much? In Olympus and depending on who you’re dealing with, yes. Maybe it’s best to just go along with her, though…
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Saturday Short Stories 6.4.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 29, Bamf.to.NYC
Maggie, Elise and Carl sit down over dinner and try to decide what they’re going to do with the case. Just go after Steadman, who they have enough information on to send to jail, or go for the source and take care of the whole operation. No matter what they decide, life has other plans for Carl.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

All Day and All Of The Night, Eldritch
Stevie Edison walks a dangerous path as he enters a seedy backwater marketplace in search of illicit goods in an old, rusty box. It could be a trap set by the United Government, or by the shady violet-skinned salesman, but the contents of the box are more than worth it. This is the first venture into Eldritch’s murky and intriguing world of spaceships, aliens, totalitarian regimes, and pirate kings.
- Bismod

New Republic part 1, Myseri
Nicklaus Caine is on a domestic flight to Seattle when WiFi & cellular services go down. On landing, each passenger is questioned individually by Homeland Security; Caine is informed that ‘while you were in the air, a nuke was launched at our nation’s capitol.’ The website hosting company that Caine works for – BladeFree Hosting – has been linked to the attack; an agent offers Caine a deal hoping to turn him into an asset. The io9er codenamed “Myseri” defects to the espionage thriller genre.
- Quango-Baud

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, roll call | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 5.19.2011-5.28.2011

Posted on 5 June, 2011 by Myseri

With this Roll Call I declare us caught up. Only not too loud. If we can keep things rolling on time for the whole month I’ll shout it. For now we invite you to read some great stories, make comments and generally procrastinate (people reading this at work, you know who you are).

Thursday Tales 5.19.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 3, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
A dark alley hides more than bad wiring and old buildings. In a world of tech the most valuable thing Tara carries isn’t a wallet, it’s her gear. In this dark chapter we get a peek at the extremes of body modification and electronic implants in the City.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Ancestors, Pt. 2, bjeffreyvidt
Emith finds himself in a tight spot, his living arrangement tenuous after losing his job. A visit to his mother goes as well as can be expected and he has a strange encounter on the way home… Perhaps it was was one of these events that set him upon beginning his next book?
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Ordination, Pt. 1, bjeffreyvidt
A crippling conflict, un-sustainable casualties, homefront apathy, un-cooperative allies: This is the Heavenly War on Terra. Favoured in the eyes of God’s Representative on Earth; Michael, a novitiate pre-ordained for a very special service, is set on the warrior’s path. An atmospheric and darkly comic challenge to orthodoxy, io9er Bjeffreyvidt initiates us into a Biblically apocalyptic future where people are not as they seem.
- Quango-Baud

8m">Confession of a Serial Kisser, collex
As a boy he knew what he liked, but as he grew it turned to obsession. A search for his own holy grail takes a man across the world, leaving no stone unturned until he finds what he seeks.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Dawn Attack, Ghost_in_the_Machine
Lieutenant Rudko leads his troops in an assault against enemy lines, the engagements are fierce in protracted trench warfare. But Rudko senses that something is not quite right – Are these lapses in memory, “shell shock” or something else entirely? And, after an encounter with a brother officer confirms his suspicions, how can he prove what he now believes? Ghost_in_the_Machine recreates an ersatz First World War in his “LongWar” strand, deploying attention to detail and period vernacular.
- Quango-Baud

Untitled Chapter 1, Lawdogg
The future is a dangerous place. Earth is ravaged by disease, leaving of several billion dead. Now’s the time to leave. Humanity takes it’s first steps to living among the stars, building a stepping stone on the moon in preparation for a colony on mars.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Bridge Builder, Chapter 43: Social Experimentation, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
A misunderstanding and an argument lead to making up. Some things never change, even when your girlfriend is an alien. But Alex and Carbon do have unique challenges, like making it through dinner with an old friend without disclosing their relationship or any classified information. This chapter builds on Alex and Carbon’s relationship and adds a twist that will leave you wondering if the biggest challenge of all is waiting to be revealed.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Saturday Short Stories 5.21.2011

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 5, Myseri
The Pennyman continues his grim task for the survivors and the others alike, even as he gets caught in the crossfire. That doesn’t slow him down, but it does make it clear that Graham will be getting his war.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Thursday Tales 5.26.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 4, Archnemesis_Goldenhair
Tara’s situation is not looking good. Knocked out cold by a gang looking for goods she doesn’t have, they’re more than happy to lift what she does have – her netlink and data.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

The Rains, bjeffreyvidt
When you work for the gods it’s all about tight schedules and pressure. Pressure to provide for hungry gods, pressure to get the harvest of ambrosia in before it’s ruined by the dangerous rains. But what if all that pressure was a smokescreen to hide something the gods didn’t want you to see?
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Long War – Part 2, Ghost_in_the_Machine
Captain Rudko knows there’s something wrong. Flanagan’s proof convinced him of that. Now Flanagan has disappeared and he’s been rotated off the front lines. Even as he doubts the war he’s fighting, his company is sent out for special training.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Untitled Chapter 10, Lawdogg
Mars – Humanity has spread from an Earth that has succumbed to disease and economic depression; they have taken humanity’s qualities and flaws with them. Constable Gilmore investigates an accident aided by robots capable of only simple tasks: Considering the thin atmosphere and need for an environment suit, the gruesome scene provokes an original use of a police evidence bag. An etched box claimed by archaeologists to be a Martian artefact millions of years old is recovered from the vehicle but Gilmore is not above “[setting] aside” other pieces of evidence. Each episode of Lawdogg’s martian saga is a connected stand-alone; this chapter is a Police Procedural with elements of crime noir and thriller.
- Quango-Baud

One’s Concrete Jungle Is Another’s Graveyard, MJ Marlieu
It’s hard living in the city for Mary Sue. Every day is a fight for survival, scrounging the streets for the basics and hoping to avoid the undead. She’s been lucky so far, finding refuge with a group of survivors. As the dead start to whittle down their numbers, how much longer can they last?
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Bridge Builder, Chapter 44: Upgraded, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
Carbon is far away, so Alex gets his mods. We learn about the pros & cons of translating devices & software: What are the social implications of not disclosing that you have a hidden translator? Will there be any problems with the software? Lip-syncing? Alex is left short of breath by the surgery (no explicit details for the squeamish), and has fresh new skin on his scalp.
- Quango-Baud

Self-Defeating Prophecy Audio Redux, John Wiswell
The end times are coming… Everybody’s end times. Asteroids, frost giants, cataclysmic earthquakes. You name it, it wants a piece of humanity. Best to just let them figure things out on their own.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Saturday Short Stories 5.28.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 28, Bamf.to.NYC
A good morning for Elise takes a turn when she gets into the office. All they work they’ve done investigating the kidnapping is rendered moot with one little scandal and that’s it for their contracts… But she won’t back down after going this far.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

The Long War – Part 3, Ghost_in_the_Machine
The newly promoted Captain Rudko has his hands full with new training, new weapons, a few new men… and women? More specifically another captain from the armored division who sparks a hazy memory more real to him than the letters and pictures of his girl back home.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, Base9, roll call | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 5.12.2011-5.14.2011

Posted on 25 May, 2011 by Myseri

It’s Roll Call time. This week we have a few interspecies misunderstandings, apocalypse and a touch of the supernatural. Catch up on tales you missed, reread ones you loved and leave comments for those hardworking writers out there.

Thursday Tales 5.12.2011

Ancestors, Pt. 1, bjeffreyvidt
A chat in a cafe with an intriguing stranger isn’t quite what it seems. Who is this strange woman only Emith can see? Why doesn’t she eat? And why does she know so much about him? Bjeffreyvidt has started a quiet, dramatic story that could go in a hundred interesting directions.
- Bamf.to.NYC

The Puppethead War #4, now4the_post
Talon finally gets an explanation about why the Honch treated him like a kid – besides his young age – and he isn’t satisfied. Despite that, he continues with their quest, learning more about the Honch’s past and the enemy they face when he confronts the unstable man himself.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Bridge Builder, Chapter 42: Widening Gyre, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
The gulf between the internal worlds of men and women is explored in this episode, as Alex makes a classic dating error of thinking for his “girlfriend” Carbon. This is all the worse considering that this girlfriend is telepathic; and here Carbon is influenced and confused by Alex’s memories into behaving with inappropriate familiarity towards a complete stranger. A disasterous dinner with this acquaintance is now nicely set-up.
- Quango-Baud

F*cking Genius, John Wiswell
John Wiswell returns with an off-color new monologue. This time we catch Orville Williamson in the clutches of the rather awkward result of interspecies miscommunication.
- Bismod

Saturday Short Stories 5.14.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 27, Bamf.to.NYC
Andrew’s girlfriend thinks he’s hiding something from her. She’s right, but it’s not what she thinks it is. A fight over perceived secrets leaves him distracted and exhausted, a dangerous combination with his work. There, an amicable conversation leads to a escape attempt that is desperate, to say the least.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Hollow World Book 2: Chapter 4, Myseri
Looking for a place to stay before the night draws in; Gina drives an electric car through an un-named town on the way to Amarillo, and recounts to Sam how she managed to live in New York after the Event. There are the problems of daily survival, the vacantly fierce Others and a potential dictator with the psychic power to visualise through the eyes of Others (a la Laura Mars). Myseri’s second book in the “Hollow World” series, continues with flair, mystery, a touch of the American Civil War and personable characters.
- Quango-Baud

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, Base9, roll call | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 3.24.2011-4.23.2011

Posted on 14 May, 2011 by Myseri

Roll Calls are back! And this is a big one. We have new tales and continuing series, horror, aliens and tech. What more could you want?
These story descriptions were made possible by the generous help of Quango-Baud, Shini: R.O.A.C.H., Bismod, and me (Bamf.to.NYC, standing in as your announcer).
Read, comment—it’s what inspires and encourages the writers, and be merry!

Thursday Tales 3.24.2011
A Small Matter of Revenge, Myseri
“Tell them about the time I chased Nixon through Watergate …”
Steve is a muse of the best kind, which means that he is a muse of the worst kind: A Demon. He’s mischievous and spontaneous and, via an author of good repute acting as his medium, he seeks to influence a new generation while playfully testing his human companion’s wits.
We don’t know if Steve is a figment of the author’s imagination, but only we can see that Steve’s practical jokes and antics provide a nerve-wracking distraction for the poor guy.
Written with wit and wry wisdom, we can only wonder what Steve will get up to next.

In Defense of the Realm – Chapter 1, now4the_post
In this intriguing opening chapter, a messenger from the mountain guard has come to meet with the Land-Regent, a wise but strange lord who doesn’t like to be called “lord.” The messenger brings news of travelers with a mysterious and troubling destination. What’s really happening beyond the mountains? And even more puzzling, why does the Land-Regent already know so much about these travelers?

Bridge Builder – Chapter 35: Lukewarm Welcome, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
In this installment of the Bridge Builder series Alex and Carbon make an unexpected return home. But when they appear out of nowhere with a huge unknown object not everyone is ready to welcome them back with open arms. Welcome to quarantine. Tight descriptions of the labs and their techs will leave you just as hungry for fresh air as Alex.

UseTech, riren100 (aka John Wiswell)
Did you ever have a problem with with your cellphone, something just didn’t work out right for you? Did you ever think that maybe you didn’t work out right for it? John Wiswell shows us the machine solution to the user problem.

Saturday Short Stories 3.26.2011
Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – Full Disclosure, Bamf.to.NYC
In this ongoing telepathic suspense tale we see last week’s shooting looks different from the shooter’s point of view. Who got thrown against that window? Did Andrew get a good look at who he was shooting at? Why is he in such a hurry to get his quarry back to the labs?

Thursday Tales 4.1.2011
My Space Plane, riren100 (aka John Wiswell)
“My space plane would have no leaks.”
The action is fast and so is the monologue:
Valet-bots and bikini-clad engineers abound while a captain commands a sleek shiny space cruiser …
Or, maybe it is a battered old skiff that is under attack?
When reading this enjoyable multi-faceted story you will need to choose your perspective carefully!

City of Walls: Prologue pt 1, Archnemesis_goldenhair
Archnemesis_goldenhair shows us a dark vision of the near future in her freshman outing. North America is dotted with radioactive craters after a barrage of nuclear weapons is launched from Mexico. Countries struggle to cope with the damage, rebuilding with an eye turned to protecting their populace. Despite of this disaster, life goes on for a young girl and her father, one of the people working to build cities to protect them from the fallout.

Bridge Builder, Chapter 36: Poorly Hidden, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
This chapter begins with Alex waiting out his monotonous quarantine. He and Carbon are reunited as they journey to an enormous space station for debriefing. But it’s a subdued reunion, neither of them sure that their relationship will be widely accepted here in the public eye.

The Puppethead War #1, now4the_post
Is the underwater city a dream, a home or a terrible danger? With chilling details and a touch of irreverent fun this continuation of First Encounter will draw you into the Puppethead Saga and leave you wanting more.

Saturday Short Stories 4.3.2011
Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – Trouble In Paradise, Bamf.to.NYC
In this installment of the telepathic suspense tale Carl get his chance to berate Maggie and Elise for getting shot at before they get down to talking about the case. But when Elise leaves it’s time for the old friends to discuss their real problems. And it’s time for Carl to discover what his breaking point is.

Thursday Tales 4.7.2011
Bridge Builder Chapter 37: Keeping Secrets, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
After an artifact from an ancient alien civilization is discovered, the authorities question and confine protagonists Alex & Carbon in luxurious surroundings on a space station.
There is tension, paperwork and even tenderness in this chapter.
And, there are a couple of lines that will reach into your soul.
I have not read “Bridge Builder” before;
So, I found myself wanting to go back to previous chapters to find out what adventures have kept Alex & Carbon apart.
This is a quiet moment in an epic.

Photograph, Ghost_in_the_Machine
A somber vignette from a time after the fall of mankind to the machines. Horace lies dying, only finding solace in his memories of a better world, and the hope that he still means something to an old android friend.

City of Walls: Prologue pt 2, Archnemesis_goldenhair
When performing tests on new methods of power generation, it’s best to use children. They’re energetic, they’ll work for crayons and they’re surprisingly resistant to injury. If it ends in a breakthrough… well, that will make for fond memories.

Saturday Short Stories 4.9.2011
Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – An Extra For Dinner, Bamf.to.NYC
So you saved someone’s life, of course her family is going to be happy. They might even invite you over for dinner. At least they’re all telepaths too, so everyone is on level ground… What’s the worst that could happen? Bamf.to.nyc shows us exactly what could go wrong (and right) in this chapter.

Thursday Tales 4.14.2011
City of Walls: Chapter 1, Archnemesis_goldenhair
In this post-prologue chapter of “City of Walls”,
Sonja gossips with her boss during a long elevator ride as she prepares for work in the bustling, claustrophobic bubblopolis that protects its citizens from a desolate world.
With energy resources, physical space and virtual memory at a premium; the simple act of downloading a video can affect your credit rating.
Archnemesis Goldenhair has a flair for combining ideas about technology, has a way with cultural memes and has a writing style worthy of a stage performance.

Target Practice, MaxConnell
Fifteen year old Jessie practices her shooting on the poisoned earth of her family farm.
Having already had her father torn away from her, Jessie faces a life of peril; drifting and maybe grifting to survive in a land afflicted by a disaster.
Max Connell’s opener to this series marries a vivid decaying post-apocalyptic world with the feel of a frontier western.

The Gray House, WatchingPreacher
WatchingPreacher makes you feel every heartbeat and hear each creaking footstep in this atmospheric tale of fear.

Girl Scouts in a Cyberpunk Era, Moxie6
From hacking the mainframes of evil multi-national conglomerates to building cloning labs from scratch, Megan S. gives us a rundown of the challenging new badges the Girl Scouts of tomorrow will be striving for in this hilarious look at the coming cyberpunk dystopia.

Vocation, bjeffreyvidt
Jakob is going to get a job… but he’s not going to be the same person when he gets it. He’s been chosen for vocation and personality training and finds himself entirely at the mercy of the powers that oversee it. bjefferyvidt writes a chilling tale about what happens when someone doesn’t have the ability to survive on their own.

The Puppethead War #2, now4the_post
Old friends and new allies are found as Talon and Ferran make the first stop on their journey to warn the Overarchy about the coming invasion. Talon learns an embarrassing lesson in keeping secrets as he does his best to turn an ally into an enemy as in the next installment in the Puppethead Saga.

Working Grandpa, riren100 (aka John Wiswell)
You know that family member. The one that matters to you enough that you want them to think well of you, even if it’s hard to impress them. John Wiswell offers an unusual take on resolving the problem.

Police State, Myseri
Paul gets a rude awakening in the early hours one morning, the police threatening to break down his door, absolutely certain there is a criminal living in his house. He gets a lesson in reading the fine print in a story that feels uncomfortably close to being real.

Bridge Builder, Chapter 38: Decisions, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
There are a lot of things to consider when you date an alien. Has it ever been done before? How does your society deal with change? What will her people say? What will her father say? And how long can you keep it a secret? Despite being home again and safe, life continues to get more complicated for Alex and Carbon.

Saturday Short Stories 4.16.2011
Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – Pool Cues, Bamf.to.NYC
Since his escape from Park Slope Asylum, Andrew has been hiding in his head. He’s closed his mind so well that he was almost caught kidnapping one subject and had to shoot a second one. In this chapter of the Telepath series he finds out how burying his thoughts will affect his personal life.

Thursday Tales 4.21.2011
Bridge Builder, Chapter 39: New Job, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
Alex has a difficult morning. With Carbon in his shower, and room service at the door, he struggles to keep her presence a secret. He then has an unexpected visitor who gives him something more to worry about than hiding his relationship with Carbon.

Upgrade, Myseri
Imagine buying something that ends up taking much more than a “few minutes of your time”.
In “Upgrade”, a man’s desire for new tech leads to more than he bargained for.
Myseri gives us a familiar vignette on those dark, air-less little places in malls and subways that fill (and create) the holes in our technological needs.

Saturday Short Stories 4.23.2011
Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – In The Corner, Bamf.to.NYC
It’s hard being the odd one out, particularly when you’re the only one who isn’t a telepath in your family. Elise deals with fallout from Lee’s visit to the family dinner and some painful revelations. Because really, when you’re about to go explain to your boss why you almost got shot pretending to be a spy, is there a better way to get ready than a healthy dose of family trouble?

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 1, Myseri
Hollow World is back with a bang. Graham and his army need a place to camp for the winter. But the Others don’t build what they need, they take it. A fierce battle for winter housing becomes eerily symbolic of the war to come.

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, Base9, roll call | Tagged | Leave a comment

Roll Calls for 4.28.2011-5.7.2011

Posted on 14 May, 2011 by Myseri

We’re still getting the hang of doing these weekly. This time around we’ve added a note at the end of each blurb to indicate who wrote them. Otherwise it’s just the usual awesome science fiction!

Thursday Tales 4.28.2011

City of Walls: Chapter 2, Archnemesis_goldenhair
In this installment we take a step deeper into a world more plugged in that we can imagine. Smartphones and tablets have nothing on hovering holographic displays, keyboard-less navigation and inner ear receivers. And there’s still the mystery of the huge encrypted file to unravel.
- Bamf.to.NYC

A Brave Old World, Myseri
“A Brave Old World” takes us to a time-forsaken people trapped in a place called the “Spire” that has been shut off from outside contact for a millennia. Our protagonist, Mason has “won” the Lottery … to be sent out into the unknown on a quest to find out why they were isolated and whether the reason for that isolation has passed. In this story, the mischievous Myseri is being mysterious!
- Quango-Baud

The Puppethead War #3, now4the_post
Abstract aquatic adversaries, action, adventure and adolescence. The lake creatures “stand” between the group of youngsters and their mission to a floating settlement. A lot is happening in the Puppethead Saga, there are many plots, intrigues and rivalries. I wonder if now4the_post can keep all those balls in the air? Or, should that be “buoys” on the water?
- Quango-Baud

Bridge Builder, Chapter 40: Semantics, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
Alex’s new job will have you questioning his loyalties. I’ve been following this series from the beginning and even I was surprised at how this chapter played out. Another great character moment in a character driven series.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Saturday Short Stories 4.30.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 25, Bamf.to.NYC
In this week’s Telepaths Carl gets out of the house to do a little surveillance work. But distance won’t save him from trouble at home, and his anger will lead to trouble with the serial killer tagging along for the ride.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Hollow World Book 2 Chapter 2, Myseri
Zack managed to lead the band of survivors to his parents farm and now relays their story of survival after the apocalypse. It’s wasn’t an uplifting tale, but at least everyone is there to tell it and life seems to be settling down… except for that one terrible vision.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Thursday Tales 5.5.2011

City of Walls (untitled), Archnemesis_Goldenhair
This side story makes an interesting addition to a tech-controlled world. What happens when the youth of the future jailbreak not just their tech implants but a host of tiny nannites? Local news and everyone plugged has to wait for the General Surgeon’s press conference for answers.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Untitled, Collex
A fast-paced scene setting the opening to a new story from a new ThursdayTales contributor. On this flight of fancy aboard the Quicksilver are the familiar themes of a veteran captain, a spaceship and her capable crew who are in competition with a rival captain, ship and crew. If this good natured rivalry will lead to cosmic catastrophe or to space-opera adventures only further installments can tell. Author collex confesses that the piece was quickly written and, so, (knowing as I do that feeling when ya-just-gotta-write) any mis-steps are easily forgiven.
- Quango-Baud

In Preperation, Myseri
Steve is back! The stress of creativity is explored through a surreal yet very
familiar conversation with a demon.
- Bismod

Bridge Builder, Chapter 41: Blown Cover, Shini: R.O.A.C.H.
Carbon adjusts to life on a station full of sometimes overly curious
humans. She and Alex’s deepening relationship leads to a surprising
consequence.
- Bismod

Sun Belt, John Wiswell
Everybody has tried on a favorite shirt or pair of jeans only to find that it doesn’t fit like it used to. Some accept those changes with grace, some are… more stubborn. Lucky for us, the Sun isn’t too stubborn.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Saturday Short Stories 5.7.2011

Telepaths: The Park Slope Conspiracy – 26, Bamf.to.NYC
In this week’s Telepaths we discover a new layer to Maggie’s problems with the serial killer that shares her brain, gain insight into Carl and Lynn’s rocky telepathic marriage and see what a retired psychiatrist and a senator’s staff member do to celebrate. Fair warning, this one is pretty racy.
- Bamf.to.NYC

Hollow World Book 2: Chapter 3, Myseri
There are more stories to be told over breakfast. Jud recalls the devastation of The Day of the Blasts and the trip he made for supplies, but not before he shows Peter and Zach the mark that Graham has left on the farm.
- Shini: R.O.A.C.H.

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, Base9, roll call | Tagged | Leave a comment

Interview with Bamf.to.NYC

Posted on 14 October, 2010 by Myseri

I recently had the opportunity to email/IM/generally chat with J.A. Platt, whom you may know better as “Bamf.to.NYC” over at Io9.  A medical animator by day, she took the time out of working on stories about aliens, roller derbies (now all she needs to do is combine the two) and apparently a Victorian Steampunk tale, which I for one cannot wait to read, to answer a few questions.

Myseri: Besides writing, do you have any other hobbies?

Bamf.to.NYC: I read. A lot. And I bake bread from my grandfather’s recipes. I leave most of the running, jumping and shooting to my characters.

M: Regarding the story you are posting for #SaturdayShortStories, “Telepaths – The Park Slope Conspiracy,” do you have a timeline on completing it?

B: Technically, it is finished. I’ve been shopping it around and have a healthy pile of rejection letters. I’m hoping to get a little feedback from visitors to the blog before I start my next round of queries. If you spot a glaring typo or a plot hole and point it out I’ll send you some cookies.

M: What is your writing process?

B: My writing process usually starts with being bored. Really bored. Working-at-a-theme-park-and-not-being-able-to-read-or-do-anything-really-because-you-have-to-look-alert-for-customers bored. When I worked at Disney I would imagine that I was a vampire or a mutant or a telepath. Anything that was less dull than a face painter with no customers. I would start thinking of logistical problems. How could the vampire be out during the day? How did the mutant keep their powers hidden in a crowd? How did the telepath deal with all the noise? And when I got involved enough in the world a character would come to me. In the case of telepaths Maggie was the first one. She popped into my head when I was on the subway with a broken iPod thinking about the possibility of telepaths that could project their thoughts. And what would happen if something went wrong. Suddenly I had a psychiatrist with a serial killer trapped in the back of her brain. The rest of the story fell out from there.

Of course it wasn’t quite as easy as that. I did research on mental disorders, guns, police procedure, and spent a lot of time annoying my friends with plot details. Two years passed between the first sentence I wrote and the manuscript I have now. But it all started when I was bored and I had to entertain myself.

M: What tools do you use when you write?

B: I used to use moleskins. I was in love with those little notebooks. Perfect pocket size, lined paper, pretentious leather binding (the first one had a lot of French vampires in it), and a tiny pocket for anything I had written on a napkin or a receipt when I couldn’t get to my notebook. I filled ten of them with notes, chapters, research, deleted scenes and sketches. Then I hurt my wrist and had to get serious about ergonomics. These days if I’m on the train I use an iPad for the low impact keyboard, and at home I use a Kinesis split keyboard and take a lot of breaks. My most important tools (besides my brain) are my hands, so I try to take care of them.

M: What kind of software do you use or do you just write directly on to your blog?  And do you use any other software for keeping your stories organized?

B: I use Microsoft word or Pages on my iPad. All of the edits happen before I post to the blog. It’s safer that way considering my tempestuous relationship with html (I’m looking at you Blogspot). For organization I actually use the method my animation professor taught me. Put every project in its own folder and put the date in every file name. It’s not fancy but it keeps the latest versions handy.

M: When you are finished with your story are there other serials that you have in mind to write, or do you plan on taking a break?

B: I don’t have any short serials in mind right now. I am gearing up to write the sequel to a steampunk novel that I’m in the process of editing. For some strange reason I thought it would be easier to edit them together. Which would be true if I could stop writing long enough to get to the editing. For some reason the adventures of a Victorian superhero in a steampunk mech are a lot more interesting than fixing my (inevitable) comma splices.

M: So, does the superhero have powers?  Or is it the fact that he (she?) has the mech that makes them a superhero.  And where does a Victorian mech come from?

B: She used to have superpowers. After the war (which I’m being intentionally vague about) her whole brigade was forced to take a serum that neutralized their powers. Think of it as something like a nuclear disarmament treaty, after a devastating war all of Europe had to give up their super soldiers. Afterward she helped design a mech that would recreate most of her powers.

This is all set in Victorian England, so the mech has a lot of cogs and brass, steam powers the city, and zeppelins rule the skies. The original first chapter is up on my blog as a short story called The Jade Dragon.

M: What about Derby Girls? Do you have anything more planned for Madame Secretary?

B: Not at the moment, but Madame Secretary is very resourceful. I have a feeling she’s not done with me yet.

M: What inspired you to write the serial you are working on now?

B: So many things. I wanted to explore the idea of telepaths as a minority group in our current society. How would they be treated, segregated, or regulated? What jobs could they hold? Would they have disclose their status? How would they relate to non-telepaths?

I also wanted to have gay characters that would have an adventure that wasn’t about coming out, being persecuted because of their sexuality, or fighting for equality. These are all important themes but I felt like I hadn’t seen enough stories where gay characters could have dramatic arcs that weren’t about being gay.

And maybe most importantly, I wanted to write a villain that wasn’t villainous. The villain in Telepaths is a sympathetic character (I hope), a guy who believes he’s doing the right thing, and has relationships and problems just like the other characters.

M: What book are you currently reading?

B: I just re-read Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey and I’ve started the audiobook of Persuasion by Jane Austen. A gay superhuman and a dash of regency English are just what I need to get in the mindset for writing steampunk superheroes

M: Who are your favorite authors?

B: What a question! How much space do you have? I love Jane Austen’s sarcasm and cultural critique and the riveting stories she builds on quiet moments. I love Bryce Courtenay for proving there can be a great first person narrative. I love Chuck Palahniuk for pushing the boundaries of reality and being able to disgust someone who’s been to an autopsy. I love Thomas Harris for his compelling characters. I love Victor Hugo for treating a cathedral like a person (and writing my favorite theory on the history of architecture). And I love, love, love Alexandre Dumas for proving a story can have swords, jailbreaks, revenge, seductions, science and a thousand other things and still manage to say something about the human condition.

M: If you could get away to somewhere to write, where would it be?

B: London. I wrote my first original characters there and I always had the feeling the architecture just seeped inspiration. Or it could have been the appalling air pollution. Either way I got a good story out of it.

M: When you get your first book published, what are you going to do to celebrate?

B: I’m going to go skydiving. In my family it was a rite of passage. My dad (a former army rigger and parachutist) took all of the siblings out for their 18th birthday. I’ve always wanted to go back and get certified to jump solo.

Hmm, skydiving is not really my cup of tea, but I definitely will agree with you on London.  I love the ancestry of the place, just the old world feel.

For more of J.A. Platt’s work, check out her little hole in the universe. it can be found here.

Well, thank you for reading, and hopefully you will tune in next time.  But next time means I have time to ponder….”Who’s next?”

Posted in #saturdayshortstories, #thursdaytales, Interview | Tagged | 1 Comment